Life lessons come from the most unexpected sources

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

I’m a great believer in fate and it happened again during a recent trip to Sydney. I had been excited at the opportunity of a side-trip down to Canberra for the Renaissance exhibition. Here were paintings of exquisite beauty from the likes of Raphael, Botticelli and Titian right on my doorstep – many of which have never before been seen outside Italy.

However a number of circumstances conspired against me so that I missed out on getting down to Canberra. I’m an optimist at heart though and so I figured this gave me a damn good reason to visit Italy in the future! And then fate stepped in one morning while I was having a lazy start to my day watching Sonia Kruger and David Campbell on morning TV.

There was a story about the American actress Ellen Burstyn visiting Australia to conduct acting master classes. I have always liked her and greatly respected her as an actress and a person. The story ended by advertising an evening with Ellen Burstyn at the Chauvel Cinema where she was to be interviewed by Noni Hazelhurst. In my mind fate had struck again, and the ticket cost was exactly what it would of cost me to go to Canberra!

It was one of the most amazing evenings I have ever experienced and has the potential to be life changing, depending upon the decisions I now make.

Ellen Burstyn was an inspiration! Examples of the quality of her character were her decision to refuse a part which she and the director suspected would win an Oscar, because she didn’t think the role suited her. The declined role won Cloris Leachman an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1972. She also chose to not attend the Academy Awards in 1975 because it would of meant being absent for a Broadway stage performance. Her ethical compass told her it wasn’t right to disappoint patrons who had paid good money to see her perform, so she could possibly receive an award for a long since completed performance. She won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

My goal is to live my life and to work for and with people with the same moral compass.

She also spoke of the value of acting classes in teaching anyone who commits to them to learn to be in the present and to minimise the negative impact of ego. She gave a powerful example of having to pick up a glass of water on stage. Common thoughts are “my hands are shaking and the audience can see it”, “what if I spill it or how should I hold it” which are examples of ego and not being in the moment. When in fact the only thing you actually need to do is……….. pick up the glass of water!

My goal is to take acting classes (a recurring thought over the past 20 years that I have never followed through on).

Ellen finished the evening by selecting a poem to read, When Death Comes by an American poet Mary Oliver. On the face of it this could be seen as a depressing choice however nothing could be further from the truth. The poem spoke of living a life without regret so that death can be experienced with curiosity rather than fear.

My goal is to have lived my life embracing every opportunity.

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Podcast – how to manage your relationships with recruitment consultants

by K B , updated on March 26, 2012

Ok, here’s my very first podcast. Now I know people have been podding since about 2005 or so, but hey – better late than never. Today I would like to present a very good friend of mine, Ms Bronwyn Murphy. Bronnie and I go waaaay back to a time where we sat next to each other at Smalls Recruiting.

Bronwyn gave me an award and a bathing cap with a shark on it – “the sink or swim award” as I stepped into a desk where the previous occupant had left in a rush due to an accident. There were no notes, no nothing. I think I swam, thanks to her encouragement and support.

Bronwyn now runs www.bjmconsulting.com.au, a firm specialising in training, retaining and engaging staff.

Many of Bronwyn’s clients are recruiters and recruitment consultants. She gives us the rundown on what the industry looks like, and how to manage your relationship with consultants.

I’ve hit her up with some hard questions including:

– overcoming roadblocks such as “no local experience”

– how you can tell whether you are in the hands of a professional consultant

– how many consultants should you meet

– what makes them pick up the phone

– how many resumes should you send out

– what are they really looking for in a telephone interview

– should you accept a telephone interview on the spot

– should you tell them if you have been sacked

– how you can annoy your recruitment consultant

So here it is: Interview IQ interview with Bronwyn Murphy. All feedback gratefully accepted.

If you know anyone who would make an interesting interview, please let me know.

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Blog Spotter Six

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

Its still Kool a bit Kwerky and always Kwestioning . . . . . we’ve found what’s good for you!

Hello and welcome to the Year of the Dragon! I’ve ferociously hunted down what’s frighteningly hot in the Careers, HR and Recruitment blogosphere.

Let’s open the new year with a smart pithy piece from Ask a Manager. I’d suggest Alison Green’s what should a new manager ask to get to know their employees better, is also sage advice for more seasoned managers and any employee. You can follow Alison on twitter @AskAManager.

On a lighter but still informative note Anita Bruzzese informs us What to do When You Make a Fool of Yourself in Front of Colleagues. Sobering advice…….thanks Anita!

OK, it’s short and sweet, but maybe that’s why it’s so good! In a few well chosen words Maureen Anderson reminds us how important it is to be faithful to our most cherished desires. It’s so easy to get distracted in today’s world of technological distractions from what’s really important to you. Thanks for the poke in the ribs Maureen.

How To Show An Employer That You Are Well Rounded may just give you that different perspective needed for your job hunt. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of focusing too much on particular strengths whilst losing sight of the value to employers of a broad skill set. Anna Runyan’s words of advice may just widen your field of vision. You can follow Anna on twitter @classycareer.

This is just pure positivity. Nothing more to say except watch and enjoy! The Future Belongs to the Curious.

Now that I’ve turbo-charged your positivity, let’s take a moment to pause and reflect on how Confidence is a Numbers Game. Even the most successful people can lack confidence and here’s a useful tip to combat that tendency. Now men before you complain that Jodie Glickman’s blog is only aimed at women, I think it relates just as well to anyone who experiences a seed of doubt. You can follow Jodie on twitter @greatonthejob.

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Why Can’t Employers See the Forest for the Trees???

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

We received the following email recently from a reader the other day and Karalyn has asked me to respond in blog-form, because the writer has raised an important issue that we think could be relevant to other readers.

I’d like to open with an edited version of the email:

“I’ve been 3 years riding the employment roller coaster and I’ve had to deal with rejections once again in 2012 as I have started applying for jobs. I worked for ‘one of the biggest media agencies’ two years ago but lasted only a couple of months, most probably because they had too much expectations but also likely that I do not have the local knowledge as local candidates do. I bought a restaurant, employed over 10 people over one year but had to sell it due to the retail slump. I lost my savings that I brought to Australia and now I am back at square one searching job sites.

What I find hard to understand is that I tried to contribute to the economy in a small way to retain staff that I had hired, more from sympathy but who never the less ended up validating my hiring decisions. Now that I am on the other side of the fence, I see that not many are that risk-friendly.

I just wonder if Bill Gates had decided to move to Australia presently but in the same age bracket he was fifteen years ago, would he have got a job?”

Wow. Some really great questions here! And I can hear some very understandable frustration as well.

First of all can I say I’m very impressed at the courage you have shown in opening a restaurant and in taking a chance on people that you had the good sense to realise were worth giving ago. Opening any small business is a huge risk and challenge but to do it in a country that is relatively new to you is amazing. I’m also very impressed by your perseverance in your job hunting efforts.

I would like to directly answer your concerns but need to firstly say that I hope you can appreciate that it is
very difficult for me to make any meaningful comment about the reasons you feel your role with a media agency did not work out without me having more information. However I will say that I do appreciate how frustrating it must have been.

I want to immediately say that Karalyn and I both agree with you that Australian organisations seem to be rather more “risk-phobic” than their overseas counterparts. They just don’t seem to know what to do with job hunters who don’t exactly fit a pre-determined ideal. Some employers also tend to be locked into a mindset to fill their vacancy with a clone of the previous occupant in the job, forgetting that they didn’t have those skills and experience when they first started.

It’s hard for candidates to break through the “risk-free” attitude of some employers and this is where I think all candidates need to have a good hard look at their recruitment consultant. Because I believe it’s part of their role to break this barrier down for you. A good consultant should take the time to get to know your skills and abilities. Then they should be 100% in your corner fighting to get their employer clients to take a genuine look at you as a potential employee.  The best advice I can give you is to expect this from your recruitment consultant. And if they don’t come to the party, find a new consultant who will fight for you!

From Karalyn and my experience in the recruitment industry many employers want iron-clad guarantees that a new employee will work out. So they go with the safe option. When often it is the candidate with less experience or different but translatable experience that has a burning desire to succeed in the job!  So listen up employers and take a step back to look at the wider picture. There may just be a shining star standing in the second or third row!

Oh and yes I think you are right that Bill Gates may well have found himself on Centrelink benefit for quite some time here in Australia!

Stick at it and I’m sure with the help of a good recruitment consultant you will find the right company and job for you!

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Employment in Australia …..doom and gloom ….. or time to move?

by Richard , updated on November 3, 2020

ANZ, Qantas, Westpac, Australian Airlines, Alcoa, Billabong, Toyota, Pacific Brands, Macquarie Bank, Holden. The recent list of companies shedding jobs, under threat, or closing down seems endless and could easily be viewed as symptomatic of the ill health of the Australian economy.

Should we all now be fearful and anxious about the loss of our jobs or is there more to this picture of doom and gloom that the media and some commentators is busily painting?

Most importantly, what action can or should we take to secure our future employment?

Firstly, let’s take a closer look at the nature of these companies that have experienced substantial job loss. There is a long term downward trend within the Manufacturing industry (Toyota, Holden and Pacific brands) that represents a fundamental shift in Australia’s economic structure rather than a declining economy. The reasons for company closure (Australian Airlines, Billabong) are often complex and may have little to do with overall economic health. It has also recently been asserted that the much publicised job cuts amongst Australia’s banking sector is reflective of a drive to maintain profit levels that are unsustainable in today’s market and that the job cuts risk longer term profitability.

But do these job losses truly reflect the state of Australia’s economy? There is no doubt that certain sectors are doing it tough however the release of January employment statistics from the ABS, indicates a fall in Australia’s unemployment rate resulting from significant jobs growth. The recent Smart Company Blog Post includes data from the Employment Minister Bill Shorten that health services, micro businesses (especially online based), the service sector and businesses well placed to tap into consumer spending pattern changes are leading the employment charge. Several examples of large scale hires in construction and IT were quoted and mention made of Wesfarmers plans to boost its workforce in 2012.

Following the GFC, jobs growth has been strong. All states have experienced jobs growth. The highest percentage growth has been in WA, NT and QLD however the largest numbers of new jobs have occurred in NSW, VIC and QLD.

It’s important to remember as well that bad news sells papers and increases TV ratings, so there is a disproportionate amount of the gloom reported rather than the boom. We are well advised to take a wider and longer view as well if we are to secure our employment future.

Where will most jobs growth be over the longer term? Well most new jobs will be in a small number of industries. In fact almost 50% will be in Health Care and Social Assistance, Construction and Professional Scientific and Technical Services (specifically Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services, Legal and Accounting).  However all industries (other than Manufacturing) will still experience growth.

It’s vital to appreciate too that the job market and the nature of employment has changed dramatically. Importantly:

–  Technological change, labour market flexibility and economic reform have seen far fewer people in long term full-time employment

–  Part time and casual employment has become the norm for many

–  Alternatively many older workers are now self-employed or are contracting out their services.

So how can you prepare for possible job uncertainty in the future? There are a number of things that can be done.

1. People leaving school now can expect to have at least 9 different careers in their lifetime. It is vital that you also acknowledge and embrace substantial career change as part of your working life.

2. Incorporate flexibility into the structure of your work. You may need to work 2 or 3 part time jobs or look at short term jobs or volunteer work as a way to break into an industry.

3. You may need to be quite entrepreneurial in your approach. Consider getting an ABN and contract yourself out. Karalyn’s interview with a leading entrepreneur provides some useful insights.

4. Research where the jobs are and be prepared to move. There are good job opportunities in Regional Australia with significant job opportunities for skilled workers. The government offers training assistance and provides useful facts and figures about regional job markets.

5. Much growth will be in skilled areas. Look at reskilling yourself with further education. The pace of change both within an industry and in the broader job market means people that constantly update their skills will be the most in demand. There are useful resources available to identify what skilled occupations have shortages.

Finally can I suggest that you read Australian Jobs 2011 as it provides an invaluable resource for those who wish to be well informed about the Australian job markets. Jobs growth for the past 5 years is examined and most importantly it provides a detailed analysis of the future potential of Australia’s 19 industry groupings and regional employment areas. You will also find valuable information regarding training and education.

Job Outlook is also an indispensable tool for facts figures and forecasts of industry and occupation specific jobs growth.

 

 

 

 

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4 Mistakes you can stop right now on Linkedin – by Naishadh Gadani

by K B , updated on November 3, 2020

Morgan Freeman said “with power, comes responsibility.”

This is absolutely true in regards to LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an awesome powerhouse, and is becoming more powerful. But we must exercise a great deal of responsibility while using it for our own advantage.

I have come across some crazy, outrageous and silly mistakes that people make on LinkedIn. I still don’t consider myself a LinkedIn user extraordinaire, but I’ve implemented sound LinkedIn strategies for myself. So I thought I would share a few of my tips and techniques.

To enhance your professional standing and profile on this insanely awesome tool you must avoid following actions:

1. Liking all or many posts I call this the “like-addiction”. When you’re on LinkedIn or Facebook, you don’t have to keep hitting the button “Like” for no reason. Every time you hit the like button it sends a signal to your reader that you approve this post or at the minimum you like what is being said. Before hitting the button think about these questions  “is it relevant my brand or message? Will it enhance my brand image?” Readers don’t want to occupy their LinkedIn dash board space with your random likes. It’s a turn off.

2. Updating irrelevant status update: I think updating status and sharing stories and articles you like is a great feature and needs to be used strategically. If used wisely it will act as catalyst in your brand enhancement. My observation is quite a few people have a compulsive approach to sharing stories of varied nature, from US debt crisis to political crisis in Libya to job search issues around the world to Prince William’s wedding. This just confuses readers of your profile. They may ask “what does this person really stand for?” Why is he or she on LinkedIn? What does he or he want to communicate? Stop before you hit the share button and think if the story/article is on-brand or not.

3. Not customising invites: I will be brutally honest and straight forward in this matter. Do your homework, read the profile and tailor your invite. Let me give you an analogy. While writing wedding invitations for my wedding my Dad wrote the name of the invitee and his family members on each and every invite. This really makes a big difference. Tailoring your invites communicates that you have studied the profile and found a common thread or interest and are interested in building relationships. In past I have spammed lot of people with my invites and learnt this lesson the hard way. As a consequence LinkedIn restricted my ability to send invites to anyone. This is now lifted. Sigh!!!

4. Spamming group members with marketing materials: From the time I wake up and go to bed, I have been asked to buy some product or services “on train, bus, radio, TV, internet, Facebook and many more”. Stop misusing LinkedIn group to spread and bombard readers about your products and services.

There are many more small and not-so-small mistakes that people are currently making and will continue to do on LinkedIn. I know I’ll continue to make a few.

LinkedIn is a great tool for career management. Let’s make the most of it. Happy LinkedIn-working!!!

This guest post is by Naishadh Gadani – you can read his LinkedIn profile here!

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