5 Career Resolutions to Banish Your Workplace Woes

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

It’s great to be able to welcome one of InterviewIQ’s guest authors – Susan Wareham McGrath back with a very timely blog about refocussing our careers. There’s some really great advice.

Take it away Susan…..

The new financial year is a great time to take stock of your career. So if you’re suffering from workplace woes or just feel like you’re treading water, here are five resolutions to help make your career work for you this year!

1. Give your Career a Health Check

Just as you need to look after your own health, you need to look after your career’s health to make it work for you. The start of the year is a great time to review your progress towards your career goals and make plans for the rest of the year.

Consider setting aside some time to think about:

  • where you are now,
  • where you would like to be,
  • what you need to do to get there and

write a simple career management plan to help you keep on track over the next twelve months.

Remember to include SMART goals and milestones (ie Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-bound), and don’t be afraid to change the plan as your circumstances change. Just like strategic plans, career management plans should be living documents with built-in flexibility to be adaptable to changing circumstances.

2. Update your Resume

Have you ever missed out on a job opportunity because you didn’t have a current resume at the ready? Don’t let that happen again, spend some time this weekend getting your resume up to date!

Some tips for a competitive resume:

  • make it achievement focused, rather than a list of duties taken directly from
    your job description,
  • consider carefully whether including a career objective is adding value, even resume writing professionals disagree on this issue,
  • try and keep it to 3 or 4 pages (remember your resume’s purpose is to get you an interview not to get you the job – keep it short and simple – leave the detail for the interview) ,
  • use keywords liberally throughout your resume,
  • keep the format clean, simple and professional (no funny or suggestive email
    addresses please!) and
  • proofread and check it carefully (get someone else to check it as well).

Also remember that resumes need to be targeted to specific jobs so always review your resume from the employer’s perspective before submitting it. Ensure its content is specific to the job in question. Recent research indicates that employers take less than 20 seconds to decide whether a resume is worth consideration so it’s important that you showcase your suitability for the role from the start.

3. Review your Social Media Profiles

Be very careful how you present yourself on social media. It can be your best friend or your worst foe in terms of career branding as increasing numbers of employers’ check candidates’ social media profiles when considering their employment application.

How would your social media profiles shape up against employer scrutiny?

When you’re engaged in a job search it’s well worth looking through the eyes of a prospective employer at the image you present to the online world.

Does your Facebook page contain content that might work against you in a job search?  If so, you could consider making it private.

On this note you may want to look at InterviewIQ’s previous blog Facebook Twitter Candidate Checks…..should we….. just because we can?

Is your LinkedIn profile up to date and keyword rich so it comes up in searches for people in your industry? Have you used LinkedIn to connect strategically, join groups and to build up your profile as an expert in your field?

Do you have an online resume?

If not, it’s never too late to start, even spending a little time on developing a professional social media profile will provide you with a very positive return.

4. Access the Hidden Job Market

It’s been estimated that up to 85% of Australian jobs are not advertised publicly; constituting Australia’s ‘hidden job market’. And these jobs come with an added bonus. Industry estimates indicate that only 5% to 10% of candidates know of them, so there is much less competition for them, a real bonus for savvy jobseekers!

So how do you break into the hidden job market?

There are a number of strategies you can use.

One of the most effective strategies is networking, making connections with people who can advise you of potential or current job opportunities, or who can introduce you to people who are aware of those opportunities. Personal and online networking are both very effective ways of gaining leads and introductions. In the online space, LinkedIn in particular is a great networking resource for people who are looking for a new job especially when you approach your LinkedIn job search campaign in a focused and strategic way.

You can also take your networking a step further by strategically volunteering with companies or within industries relevant to your career ambitions. The recent InterviewIQ blog An Update on Volunteering your way into a New Job may provide some useful insight.

A second strategy to break into the hidden job market is to undertake industry research to identify organisations you would like to work for. Then either cold call the HR department or if you find cold calling daunting, introduce yourself in writing, advising you’ll follow up with a phone call. Prepare what you’re going to say in advance, ensuring you highlight the ways in which you can add value to the organisation. Follow up by sending a short letter or email to the person you spoke to, thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in working for the organisation, a small gesture that has a lot of impact!

Registering with recruitment agencies is another effective strategy to access the hidden job market. Not only do professional recruitment consultants often know of jobs that aren’t advertised elsewhere, but they are skilled at promoting their candidates and can give you invaluable advice about presentation, branding and interview skills to assist you through the job application process.

5. Define and Promote your Personal Brand

In career terms, your personal brand is the way you present yourself and the unique value that you add to everyone you come into contact with who has the potential to positively impact your career. This includes work colleagues, your employer, clients, recruiters, professional networks, friends and people you meet through your professional social media networks.

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression

So it’s important that you promote your personal brand professionally from the start. When you’re applying for a job, you start building your brand with your resume and application letter. Your performance at interview is also part of your branding: whether you dress appropriately, your body language, your confidence and mannerisms.

As an employee, it’s critical that you project a strong and positive brand that clearly and consistently indicates your value to an employer in the ways they need the most. This will ensure you stand out from the crowd and have a head start in the competition to move up the career ladder.

In your drive to move your career forward though it’s important not to forget that ‘value congruence is an important part of branding.’ Essentially this means that it’s important that you don’t force yourself to apply for a position that offends your values, or in an organisation that clashes with your ethics. It won’t work and you’ll feel fake. You’ll make yourself unhappy and your brand will eventually fall apart.

So there you have them your career management plan, a targeted, updated resume , a great social media presence, the hidden job market and personal branding – five career tools you can use this year to banish your workplace woes for good!

On a final note I’d suggest it’s smart to reassess your new career management plan each year…..so diarise it!

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The Shock of Job Loss with Bills to Pay…….Help!

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

photo (79)Many, many years ago I was in a job working for an organisation that I really liked.

I was a contract employee working as a Team Leader in a call centre and was well paid with great benefits.

I had been there for almost 12 months and was being given every indication that my future with the company was secure with a permanent job offer just around the corner.

Then out of nowhere I was called into the General Manager’s office on a Tuesday morning, informed that the company had unexpectedly lost a client contract and that I would be finishing up within the next 2-3 weeks.

I had left a well paid job to take on this new role and had rent, car, utility and credit card payments to service.

I did appreciate that there are never any guarantees in these situations but it didn’t stop me from feeling angry, a bit let down and increasingly anxious about my finances!

I then had to go back and support my team of 15 staff and our customers.

But I also had to immediately start thinking about my next job. And although I didn’t want to be too desperate in my search, I couldn’t afford to be too choosy either. I needed a new job and I needed it now! [click to continue…]

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An Update on Volunteering your way into a New Career.

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

A while back I posted a blog about Volunteering your Way Into a New Job!

There have been some new career developments for me as a result of my volunteering efforts which I thought were worth sharing.

I think they highlight how volunteering can shift your career ambitions into some new and very exciting directions when you least expect it.

My previous blogpost highlighted how I had moved from Sydney up to the Gold Coast to take care of my parents who are both now in their late 70’s.

This has been a difficult and challenging transition for us all but it has also brought us closer together as a family and rewarded me in ways that my career never could. [click to continue…]

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Smart or Stupid………Should I be Totally Honest About why I Left my Last Job?

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

I think this is one of the toughest questions to answer when preparing to look for work.

Let’s be honest now. From my years of experience as a Recruitment Consultant I’d estimate that over 70% of the candidates I saw were quitting their job due to bad experiences with their boss or the company.

That’s not to say it was the only reason they were leaving, but it was a contributing factor and as often as not, was the reason that had finally pushed them out the door!

But is it terribly wise to mention those negative reasons for leaving when we often have at hand any number of positive and perfectly valid reasons we can “dress up” as the truth?

I don’t think the answer to that question is ever a simple yes or no, because every circumstance of leaving is different.

Often the reasons are multifaceted and quite unique.

So perhaps the wiser approach then is to ask ourselves “should I be completely honest”, every time we undertake a new job search and then be ready to get a different answer each time!

Let’s look at some examples of what I’m talking about.

Scenario One: a fairly extreme and unfortunate example may be someone who has done something illegal at work such as being caught stealing or sexually harassing a colleague.

I think it’s a no brainer that this individual should never give this as the reason they left.

However, I’d also suggest that before they embark on a new job search it’s essential to do some soul searching about their negative behaviours. They shouldn’t take on a new job until they’re confident they won’t reoffend!

Getting to that place may involve some professional help. It may be time to think laterally and look at volunteer work to provide some recent positive references and work experience. My previous blog post, Volunteer you way into your Next Job! may help.

Scenario Two: most people once they’ve been working for a few years can think of some pretty negative experiences they’ve had working for a bad boss!

It’s unfortunately one of the most common reasons we leave a job.

Maybe your boss had a habit of being very indiscreet and talking about your colleagues work performance problems (I had a boss that did this all the time).

Maybe they had an anger management problem and had verbal fights in the office or verbally abused staff (I’ve also had this occur).

Or maybe they’re a boss who doesn’t delegate effectively or consistently over promises and under delivers.

So it pays for us to have a really good think about how we’re going to deal with it at interview.

We may have no choice. The interviewer may ask us about our experiences with our most recent manager (eg “what did you learn from them?”). You need to be prepared so make sure you give it some advance thought. You’ll at the very least probably need to explain why you’re not using them as a referee.

But we need to get back to discussing all this as a reason for leaving your job.

Many recruitment professionals will tell you to never speak negatively about your previous employers.

The danger is that you’ll look disloyal and the interviewer will be worried that you’ll say negative things when you leave their company. Personally I think this is a rather simplistic view of the issue.

The examples above of poor management are valid reasons and most potential employers would completely understand your need to leave (it’s quite likely they’ve had similar experiences).

The far more critical aspect of this issue is how you’re going to explain your reasons.

If you can demonstrate your professionalism in how you tried to manage what is a very tricky situation you can really impress the interviewer.

To effectively manage a problem boss you must have demonstrated excellent communication, negotiation and problem solving skills and be emotionally intelligent (even if the outcome was that you ultimately still had to leave).

It’s also a fantastic opportunity to show your level of self awareness and maturity by expanding your answer into what you learnt about yourself, team dynamics and what’s important to you with future organisational moves.

It may also provide you with an example of how you have improved upon a previous weakness, demonstrating that you learn from your mistakes.

At the same time it shows how you recognise that work problems are rarely on-sided and that you’ll be an asset to any future employer.

And be certain to mention how much you value loyalty in yourself and others.

These are all good messages to a new employer and I’d go so far as to say……

Who wouldn’t want to employ you?

It’s also important to have already dealt with any feelings of anger or bitterness that you may still harbour because you don’t want to get emotional during your explanation.

If you didn’t leave on good terms you need to make sure you work through your negative feelings before you’re in front of a potential employer. Don’t be afraid to seek some help if you find you just can’t move on emotionally.

Some other important points to consider when deciding how smart it is to be totally honest:

1. Every situation is different so give it a really good think before you decide to open your mouth about negative work experiences.

2. Use people whose opinion you respect as a sounding board and get several opinions before deciding what is and isn’t wise to say. Ultimately though it’s your decision so trust yourself. Your gut will often be a great indicator.

3. It’s easy to say too much when nerves get the better of you at interview and when you’re discussing a sensitive issue – so practise, practise, practise your responses. And say what you have to say and no more. Resist the temptation to “fill the silence” in interviews.

4. Watch the interviewer closely for any signs of negative or positive reaction in their body language as you’re providing your reasons for leaving and be ready to respond accordingly.

5. Remember your reasons are often multifaceted so don’t focus on just one. Talk about other reasons like the need for a career shift, your enthusiasm for new opportunities and the need to relocate etc.

6. I’d also suggest don’t be too disheartened if you get a negative response from the interviewer.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that it wasn’t a smart decision to be honest. Maybe they’re just giving you a good indication that this new company and you are not a good match. And that’s a good thing to determine early on, after all you’re trying to avoid a repeat of your last experience!

Finally as always be ready to be flexible, adaptable and to think on your feet and I’m sure you can turn a potentially negative experience to your advantage!

Need to get ahead of the pack for your next interview?

Get our free e-book The 7 Deadly Sins to Avoid at Job Interview!

Deborah Barit wrote this book. She is one of Australia’s leading interview coaches.

To get your free e-book and some of our best interview tips direct to your inbox, simply click on this link.

Here’s what happy readers said about the e-book and interview tips:

“Deborah Barit is a very smart lady…She is good at figuring out what an employer is looking for. It’s like she has ESP , with her help in preparing, I found no surprises in a recent interview and I was prepared for every question….” Cathy, Leichhardt, NSW

“Because I read so many of your posts, I feel as if you were my personal employment coach. I start my new position in two weeks. I had so many obstacles to overcome and each day you posted a solution to my dilemma and how to improve my search. Thank you so much for your input and PLEASE continue to do what you do!”

Click here to get access to the e-book.

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Impressive Impactful Interviews!

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

I’m thrilled to have a guest author writing for us this week.

Susan Wareham McGrath has been kind enough to provide some really useful advice on answering some of the most common interview questions. I think her practical approach can really help candidates at interview stand out from the crowd!

Susan has always been fascinated by the world of employment and careers and is passionate about helping people find satisfying well-paid work. She has over 15 years experience as a career consultant and job search strategist and holds qualifications in psychology, human resource management and public policy development. She’s also a nationally accredited trainer.

Susan is a strong advocate for the personal and professional advancement of women and has served as an Advisory Board Member of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network since 2007. She currently heads up its Education Development initiative.

Many people find interviews challenging and at times quite daunting. Answering interview questions effectively is a crucial part of the job search process.

The good news is that with a little advance preparation and practice you can address the most difficult questions professionally and give yourself a strong advantage over applicants who walk into an interview unprepared.

It’s important to remember that if you’ve been invited to an interview your resume and covering letter have already done the hard work for you!

I’ve prepared some common interview questions with suggested answers to help you present at interview in the best possible light.

“Tell us a little about yourself?”

This question can be easily responded to if you plan ahead. Spend a maximum of 3-4 minutes talking about your qualifications, career history, skills and achievements relevant to the job or that present you in a positive light.

Remember, you’re not expected to discuss your personal life at a job interview so it’s best to steer away from responses that include detailed information about your family or your religious and political preferences. However, it’s perfectly acceptable to mention hobbies, sporting interests and community work that you do. But make sure that you don’t give your personal life so much emphasis that it sounds as though you’re more interested in outside activities than you are in the job.

“So, why are you planning to leave your current job and employer?”

The interviewer is testing two things with this question:

  1. what drives you to move on in your career and
  2. your employer loyalty.

Unless you have an obvious reason for moving on (such as the closure of the company or your job being made redundant) respond in general terms.

Speak well of your employer and then add a reason for leaving that reflects your skills and experience. For example, “I enjoy working for the company but I’ve reached a stage where there’s nowhere to progress my career”, or “I enjoy my work with the company but now that I’ve obtained a higher level qualification I’m seeking a more senior role which the company isn’t able to provide at the moment.”

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

When you prepare for this question look carefully at the job description then make a list of strengths you can bring to the job that match the profile of the ideal applicant. For example if you’re applying for a job as a nurse, there’s no point focusing on your mathematical ability. But you can certainly highlight your patient care focus, professional expertise, integrity, punctuality and attention to detail.

When discussing your weaknesses choose a relatively innocuous trait that has little to do with the job you are being interviewed for and try to end on a positive note by talking about the strategies you use to overcome it.

For example you could mention your tendency to be a little disorganised when working on several different tasks at once. Follow this up with an explanation about how you overcome this by making up to-do lists which help you prioritise your tasks, tracking your workflow and keeping your diary up to date to avoid missing appointments or meetings. You can also mention that you return phone calls and respond to emails as soon as they’re received.

“What do you dislike about your current role?”

This is one of the most difficult interview questions to answer because you don’t know enough about the new role at interview stage to be sure you don’t mention one of its elements in your answer. Therefore try to keep your response very general. For example you could mention your current employer’s location, organisational structure etc. (after making sure they are different to those of the interviewing company).

Don’t respond by saying you like everything about your current role because that answer will work against you. Your interviewer will know that if you really felt that way, you wouldn’t be looking for another job. Also don’t ever speak badly of your present employer because a prospective employer will see that as an indication of the way you might speak of them in the future.

“Why are you the best person for this role?”

This is a great question! It gives you the opportunity to highlight all the skills, experience and qualifications you can bring to the job. Prepare for it beforehand by comparing your background with the job description and also be ready to discuss relevant achievements from your previous positions. This will demonstrate that you’ll be able to hit the ground running in the new role.

Sound and practical advice from Susan.

It would also be great to hear what you think about interview questions and how to answer them so feel free to get back to us here at InterviewIQ and share your thoughts by providing a comment below.

Need to get ahead of the pack for your next interview?

Get our free e-book The 7 Deadly Sins to Avoid at Job Interview!

Deborah Barit wrote this book. She is one of Australia’s leading interview coaches.

To get your free e-book and some of our best interview tips direct to your inbox, simply click on this link.

Here’s what happy readers said about the e-book and interview tips:

“Deborah Barit is a very smart lady…She is good at figuring out what an employer is looking for. It’s like she has ESP, with her help in preparing, I found no surprises in a recent interview and I was prepared for every question….” Cathy, Leichhardt, NSW

“Because I read so many of your posts, I feel as if you were my personal employment coach. I start my new position in two weeks. I had so many obstacles to overcome and each day you posted a solution to my dilemma and how to improve my search. Thank you so much for your input and PLEASE continue to do what you do!”

Click here to get access to the e-book.

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Blog Spotter Eight

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

Here’s what I’ve found for you that’s funny, interesting and clever in the Careers, HR and Recruitment blogosphere.

This week’s blogspotter features articles of interest to employees as well as employers. They’re all about promoting happiness and peace of mind at work.  They’ll show you that exercising choices and taking responsibility for your own career can substantially improve your workplace motivation.

First we have the Alternatives to Quitting Your Job by Tim Smith from TimsStrategy.com that gives you ideas you can use if things are bad at work. Sometimes you have no option but to try and find an in-job solution. These tips will help you to consider alternatives before you decide to quit.

Gossips, passive aggressive types, drama queens or the narcissist we’ve all experienced toxic workmates. Learning about their subtle manipulations can help you gain a measure of control over your circumstances and your own reactions. A positive atmosphere at work isn’t always possible so Toxic Leaders or Employees by Dr. Annette Rote at AboutLeaders.com can help you learn how to cope.

Drama at Work by Laurie Ruettimann at Cynical Girl asks the question “Are co-workers like family?” And do we really want to consider our workplace a family unit anyway? Some companies are proud when they proclaim they are  “just like a family” but it may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Like Laurie, I actually like most of my family but I really don’t want to work with them!

The last two articles focus on leadership and quality of work life.

As a leader are you leading the way or are you in-the-way? Here are 3 Quick Questions to Help Leaders Get Out of the Way by Bill Tolany at SmartBlog on Leadership.

How motivated are your workers? 15 successful young entrepreneurs share their secrets to keeping their employees happy and promoting loyalty to the company in 15 Ideas for Keeping Your Employees Happy.

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