How to Ask for a Reference Without it Getting Awkward
By Mia Casey Asking for a reference can be a little unnerving, particularly if you’ve left a job on a bad note or haven’t spoken to your previous bosses or colleagues for a while. Luckily for you, I’ve put together a quick summary of how you can ask for a reference (without things getting too awkward). Who to ask Ask someone who worked above, but directly with you. That way they can give examples of your work, and have firsthand...
Why University Students Should Publish On LinkedIn
By Katie Smith A career is more than employment, university students can enhance their careers by contributing to the online professional community with their innovative voices through LinkedIn publishing. I present workshops to university students to enhance their online professional identity and I thought it was time that I venture into the world of LinkedIn publishing. I’m excited to do this as I’m eager to learn and...
How to write effective emails
By Mia Casey I receive, on average, at least 20 emails a day. Most of these are sales-related (I have a problematic shopping addiction), but for those from all the real people who are emailing me, it’s easy to separate a well-written email from a poorly-written one. In today’s world, you’re likely to spend more time emailing people at work, than you are talking with them face-to-face. So knowing how to write an effective email is one...
Why You Should Always Prepare Questions to Ask at an Interview
By Courtney Wright Interviews are a test to determine whether you’re a fit for the vacant role, right? Wrong; that’s only half of the equation. While interviews are an opportunity for an employer to assess your fit with the role’s requirements, interviews are equally a chance for you to assess your fit with the organisation so if you receive the job offer you’re in a position to accept or decline, armed with...
5 Skills to Master in Your 20s
By Mia Casey For most people, their 20’s is a time of huge personal and professional development. It’s when you’re at uni, building your network, making your first real steps into a career, moving out, paying taxes – all of these steps into actual adulthood. Which can be totally scary, and more than a little intimidating at times. So the question is: what skills should you focus on mastering in your 20’s, to ensure success in the...
Video Interview Preparation Tips
By Maria Markoulli Increasingly, more firms are using video interviews to save time and reach a wider pool of candidates. While at first it can seem a little daunting, it actually can have several benefits to the candidates – the most obvious one being that your video interview is kept on file and can be referred to later on, so if you miss out on a role the first time round, chances are that you may be considered for other suitable...
Want to Succeed? Don’t Fear Failure - Embrace It
By Mia Casey Why don’t we try new things? Answer: fear. Fear of judgement, of ridicule, of disappointment - but mostly, fear of failure. If failure lost its negative connotations, what could we achieve? I recently watched this video of Sara Blakely talking about redefining what it means to fail: She talks about how her father would be actively disappointed when she had not failed at anything. Rather than coming into the...
Don’t Let Addressing the Selection Criteria Scare You From Applying
By Katie Smith When an employer advertises a job, they usually provide criteria for it. This generally tells you the essential and desirable skills, attributes, knowledge, experience and educational requirements for the role. Often Government and many Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) will require candidates to formally address a list of selection criteria in their application. It’s essential to address the selection criteria to...
Is Competition Holding You Back?
By Mia Casey Ambition and a competitive personality often go hand in hand. And it makes sense – being competitive can give you the drive you need to get ahead. But competition doesn’t always work in your favour, and recognising when you need to chill can be vital for some serious career success. So how can you use your competitive streak to your advantage, while knowing when it’s time to rein it in? Google defines competition as:...
How to Negotiate Salary: 5 Tips You Need to Know
By Stephanie Rogers Salary negotiation can be daunting - it’s normal to feel nervous. But you can learn negotiation skills that will help you land the salary you want. Sharpening these skills will absolutely pay off in your career. Remember, negotiating your salary before you accept a role is the easiest time to talk about money. It’s much harder to negotiate your salary down the track once you’re already working in an...
Settling For A Job You Hate Could Make You Sick
By Mia Casey Pretty much all of us have worked a job that we’ve hated. But what happens when that job becomes your career? Research was released this August, which suggests that low job satisfaction could be causing you lasting harm, (beyond the simple sense of dread you feel upon waking each morning). Great news, I know. So, where can you go from here? Read on to find out more! The American Sociological Association released a study...
Speaking Publicly: How to Overcome Public Speaking Anxiety
By Mia Casey I can’t say I really know anyone who actively enjoys public speaking. I sure know I don’t! But sometimes, the discomfort many of us feel can lead to symptoms of anxiety and negatively impact how we’re actually communicating our presentation. Fear not! I’ve put together a quick list of techniques you can try out to overcome your public speaking aversion. Prepare To become a good public speaker, you need to put effort into...
The Do’s and Don’ts of Phone Interviews
By Maria Markoulli If you are offered an informal or formal phone interview, this is your opportunity to show the Recruiter or Hiring Manager that you have what it takes to proceed to the face-to-face interview stage. While most interview anxiety often arises in face-to-face interviews, phone interviews need to be taken just as seriously. If you ask anyone who has had recruitment practice, they’ll be able to tell you about some pretty...
8 Online Learning Resources You NEED To Know
By Mia Casey Nowadays, almost everyone has a university degree, which can make standing out more than a little tricky when it comes to the job hunt or moving up in your career. So what can you do? For students, time and money aren’t usually on your side – so you want to get ahead with as little time commitment and financial constraint as possible. Luckily, there are a tonne of free online learning courses (sometimes referred to as...
Staying Sane While Working With Others
By Mia Casey Regardless of what industry you’re in, chances are you’re going to be working with others. Some of which you’ll love, and some… well, not so much. Understanding how to work with diverse personalities is a vital ability you need in advancing your career prospects, and can require a fair amount of skill. Luckily, we’ve compiled a few words of wisdom to help you through those more challenging times. Develop you...