In Australia there are laws in place to protect individuals aged 40 and over in the workplace, but it doesn’t always mean they are upheld.  The Age Discrimination in Employment Act was passed in 1967 and makes it against the law for businesses to discriminate against workers aged 40 or older, either in current employment, or seeking employment.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there was a steep increase just as recently as 2009 in the number of age-related discrimination claims. In that year, the EEOC noted 22,778 age discrimination claims, close to a 38 percent uptick from only 16,548 three years earlier.

In most cases, age discrimination is often cleverly disguised as something else – so it is up to employees and job seekers to be aware of how they can protect themselves from this type of discrimination!

So, below we have suggested some ways for you to protect yourself from age discrimination:

1. Keep your skills updated: Technology is one of the main areas that comes to mind!!  Keep up with new fads and changes!  Sometimes your employer will even offer courses – take up the offer, make sure you face anything new so that you don’t become overwhelmed,
2. Network: keep connected with people – this will help remind you of your worth AND also keeps you in the know for any job opportunities coming up,
3. Document any discriminatory practices: make sure you keep a record of any situations where you suspect you have been discriminated against.  Include as MUCH detail as possible.
4. Document your work record: be sure to keep a record of your good work performance!  If you have good attendance, good results in line with your job description and are ‘easy to work with’ your employer will have to have solid reasoning behind letting you go!
5. Out of the usual: be aware of anything that seems out of the usual , ie: surprise evaluations, new benchmarks that aren’t universal for all staff.
6. Promotions: if you are getting passed over for promotions, or notice that younger staff are getting better chances, you may need to consider that a red flag.
7. Training new staff: it is not uncommon for companies to ask their senior staff to train up new arrivals or groom younger staff members, but be aware (and keep notes) if you are being asked to train a “successor”.

Now all this being said (because reading back over it, it seems like a huge scare mongering story), the most important thing about age discrimination is that it doesn’t seem to happen to people who have the confidence in themselves and their ability.  If you are in a work environment that seems skewed to younger people, that can be damaging to your self esteem, so perhaps you are better off looking for a work environment that is a better fit?

If you are looking for a job, scrutinize the want ads!  Check the language, are they using young colloquialisms? Are they asking for ‘youthful’ aspects? Does the interviewer ask questions that seem to revolve around age?  If so, perhaps this is not the job for you!

I would like to think that age discrimination is becoming a thing of the past, both the employer and the employee are responsible for ensuring that older workers are of value to a company!

It may be the first tendency we have, to switch off when we receive a call from a recruiter, but if you stop a moment to think, it could be THE most important call in the world!!  Good recruiters truly do hold the keys to the hidden doors of the job market – why would you not use them to open the door to a new career opportunity!

The secrets recruiters learn working behind the scenes can be very important and can really give you an edge when you are looking for a job.  You may not be searching for a new job just at this moment, but you could need their help later or you could even use their help to ensure that you are currently in the best possible position with the appropriate pay, so it still helps to have someone in the know for the future!

Just what do recruiters bring to the table?

• The hidden job market: there are many many jobs that never get advertised in the paper or on the traditional the job boards, simply because potential employers have trusted connections in the recruitment industry and trust recruiters to find ideal candidates!  Especially senior level or confidential roles, in fact the higher the position, the less likely you are to find it advertised!
• The value of connections: recruiters generally have a lot of sway with hiring managers and usually have built good strong connections.  The benefits to you might mean that your recruiter will help you sidestep the red tape, get your foot in the door and even obtain constructive feedback to help you with your next application!  A recruiter can guarantee you are not just another resume in a pile!
• Inside Advice: a recruiter is going to be able to give you the heads up on whether you are being overpaid or underpaid, advice on whether you are ready for a senior role, tips on how to ensure your skills are up to par.  A recruiters is an excellent partner when it comes to strategic planning for your career!  They can help you ask the right questions and find the answers to advance your career!
• Same Goal Posts: this is the main one we tend to forget when we are first speaking with a recruiter: the end game is the same!  The recruiter wants to place you successfully in a role that you will love and excel at!
• Long term ally: recruiters are in the business of building relationships, this is critically important over time!  A recruiter can not only help you now, but they will be there for you in the future and not just about a new job role, a recruiter is a good ally to have if you have any questions (eg: employee rights, pay structures, contract agreements etc). Once a recruiter truly knows you, then they can really enhance your career path progression

So the next time a recruiter calls you, you just might want to pick up the phone, can you afford not to use one?!

It’s no secret – many of us start looking for a new job from a place of dissatisfaction.  We hate our boss, there has been restructuring, we want more money, we want something more satisfying, we don’t like co-workers, we are overworked.  All of them have such negative connotations – we start from a place of lack – where we are looking to fill a need that is not currently being fulfilled.

How do we end up on the back foot

This can actually skew our opportunities.  Instead of coming from a place of knowing our own worth and abilities, we start from a desperate point – we start on the back foot.  So we start to wonder if we can do the job, if we are good enough, what did we do wrong to get us to this place where we are so unhappy,

If you are coming from this point of view, you can almost bet that there will be someone else who will win your dream job over you!

You truly can’t be looking for a new job and expect the best for yourself if you are unhappy and feeling lack of self worth.

Don’t get me wrong – a little bit of contrast is good for us.  That realization that we want more or deserve better can be very very powerful!  BUT if you want to find your dream job, if you want to be the one to win out over the other candidates, it is important that you make sure you give yourself the best chances for success!

How to get in front

1. The very first step is to truly know why you are looking for a new job, write down the tangible and measureable reason/s;
2. Once you have identified the reason/s, make sure that you remove any lack of self worth feelings (ie: don’t allow your reason to be because you have failed or have shortcomings) if the reason is more money – make sure you know how much more you want and why you deserve it!
3. Now CLEARLY identify what it is you do want!  Please – don’t say “I want a better job” get SPECIFIC!!
4. Now you need to decided WHY you would be good at it and all the good things you will bring to a new role, and finally
5. Go get ‘em!!

Once you remove the ‘emotive’ responses, once you clearly identify the facts of what you don’t want, what you do want, what you deserve and why you deserve it – THEN you are in front!!  Then you will shine at interviews and impress potential employers!

Employers are looking for someone who can convey their confidence and self worth, their ability to perform and earn.  This is not a call for arrogance, but simply putting in place the above steps will help you to shine and put your best foot forward!

Last week we started discussed the importance of networking and what a huge part it can play in you landing your dream job.  The problem is that most people are terrified of networking, so last week we started giving you some tips as to how you can learn to network and embrace this job search skill!

This week we have another 4 tips AND A little know GOLDEN RULE, so that you can get comfortable with networking:

1. Listen: now I know that you know you need to listen, we are all taught that from a young age, but adding to what I mentioned last week about ‘making connection natural’ you need to listen BEFORE YOU SPEAK!  By actively listening to what someone else is saying you will be able to RESPOND to them, not just ‘keep talking’.  People like to feel heard, if you can reflect back you have heard what they have said and continue on a conversation in the same vein you will find they will feel naturally comfortable with you!
2. Don’t take advantage: remember that networking is usually about interacting with a number of people, don’t overstay your welcome!  If you are speaking with someone, especially as networking is often an informal setting, feel free to be open with them about not wanting to monopolise them and state that you have taken up 15 minutes of their time already and appreciate their time.  It is not only polite, but allows the other person then the opportunity to choose to continue a conversation with you!
3. Set goals:  this one is important!  Set yourself an achievable goal, perhaps to speak with 3 new people, or meet one particular person.  You will feel so much better with a goal and so much better when you have achieved.  Let’s be honest, networking is a goal oriented exercise, don’t waste time with encounters that aren’t meaningful, or you will leave feeling drained (remember to be polite to whomever you meet), but make sure that each interaction has value!
4. Follow-up: this is what networking is all about – giving you the opportunity to build relationships that will be mutually beneficial in the future!  Don’t waste the connections you have made, it is extremely important that you send a follow up email or make that follow up call!  So you actually need to diarise some time to do this after a networking event, if you don’t MAKE the time to follow up, it will get away from you!

The little known GOLDEN RULE!

In networking (as in any business interaction) there is definitely one thing you can do to stand out from the crowd!!  This trick makes you memorable, well liked and well regarded! And it is so simple: REFERRALS!  When you meet people, you may actually be able to help them connect with others that you also know!  Personally, I advise you do this with an open and helpful heart, otherwise it is a waste of time.  If you are only doing it to get something out of it, you will end up coming across as someone who is only using others.  But, if you can genuinely and gladly help someone connect with someone else, I promise you that it will make you stand out and make you memorable!!

So now you are armed with some actionable tips to get the most out of networking, time to get out there and put them into practice and I PROMISE you, you will reap the rewards!

Be sure to drop us a comment below if you have any questions, or would like any specific networking advice!

Traditionally we think of networking as a negative thing.  Unless you are an extrovert and a social butterfly, the thought of networking my indeed strike fear into your heart!!  But networking is not just schmoozing, in fact networking is one of the MOST effective ways to land your dream job!!

How, I hear you ask? Simple: all employers would prefer to have someone whom they already have the benefit of knowing will ‘increase success odds’!  Before a job is advertised most employers will often look close to home: consider internal promotions or recommendations from trusted friends, staff members and/or industry professionals.

So it’s time to realise some important things about networking and how learning to network successfully can really help you to land your dream job!

1. You don’t have to like it: but you do have to do it AND if you want to take advantage of this clever way to ‘promote’ yourself, you should at least look like you like it!  Even for extroverts like me it can be nerve wracking – here’s what I do, I put a smile on my face and talk to as many people as possible and the BIGGEST tip: I ask questions – everyone loves to talk about themselves, this is a GREAT way to cover up your nerves and get someone else doing the talking!
2. Make connecting natural: Like I said above, start with a smile and ask others about themselves.  Also, have a small simple spiel about yourself, but make it professional, what you do for a job and what career path you are interested in, leave the personal stuff for a different situation!  Relax, smile and act natural – when you are tense and putting on a front, people feel it intuitively and it makes everyone uncomfortable!
3. Never underestimate ‘the little guy’: too often we see people tripping over themselves to talk to ‘the big guys’, forgetting that though they may appear to be the final decision maker, there are often many people below them whose advice they will be influenced by.  My favourite saying is the receptionist has more power than you can ever imagine – and let’s face it ALL people deserve your time and respect!  Ignoring anyone can have dire results.  Remember to treat all people with interest!
4. Remember your manners: ugh, I know that you are all thinking this is common sense, BUT you will actually be amazed at the number of people who simply forget the polite niceties of meeting people.  Work on remembering people’s names (I look them in the face and say their names 3 times in my head, this has really helped me as I used to be terrible at remembering names!).  Thank them for their time and for allowing you to talk about yourself as well!

Next week we’ll have the 5 final tips for successful networking for you!!  Be sure to drop us a comment below if you have any questions, or would like any specific networking advice!

It’s probably no surprise to any employee or potential employee that the leading criterion for employers is that their staff members be someone who can do the job AND will do the job!

Yes, we colour this to look like:

Can you do the job

• What is your experience,
• What are your qualifications,
• What skills do you see as necessary to perform this job,
• How would you handle XYZ,
• Give me examples of when you have handled something like this before.

Will you do the job

• Why did you apply for this job,
• Why do you think you would be good at this job,
• Why do you want to work for us,
• Will you stay at a task until it is completed,
• How do you handle set backs,
• What is your time management like.

Further employers want someone who is going to ‘fit in’.  The social element of a job can’t be underestimated.  In fact in the vast majority of exit interviews I have experience with, the main reason for leaving a job was dissatisfaction: usually with a person or persons in the work environment.  Issues such as job responsibilities or money can generally be solved if an employee has a good relationship with their manager and is able to communicate with them, as these are issues that most employers are willing to address to keep a key employee!

The issues that most employees site are the inability to be heard, the inability to change faulty systems, or indeed plain old personality clashes.  I recently read an article that stated up to 40% of senior executives leave a position within 18 months: they were either fired, or pushed out, due to not ‘fitting in’ culturally.

Showing that you are a good fit is usually more difficult than demonstrating your qualifications and experience.  Employers don’t want to hire someone who can’t get along with co-workers, so it is important that you know how you would handle different personalities and be able to effectively demonstrate that to a potential employer.

Lastly, employers like to know that you are affordable!  This is the part that often tricks people up in an interview and it is something you should be prepared for!  The potential employer is likely to ask you what you were earning before, or what you think you are worth.  Personally – I don’t answer the “what were you earning before”, I make sure that I know what the current market rate is and I have myself armed with that knowledge before the interview.  That way I can clearly state what I would be happy to accept!  This means that the potential employers knows exactly where they sit with you and you know you won’t accept any less.  Don’t be surprised if some employers can’t afford you – but at least you are in the position of deciding if you want to accept what they will offer; and sometimes they may not be able to give you what you want straight away, but you can negotiate it after the probation period!

So, if you want the job, make sure you know how to:

1. Demonstrate you CAN do the job,,
2. Demonstrate you WILL do the job,
3. Demonstrate you can FIT in,
4. And know what you want to be paid when you can do all of these things for a potential employer!

It’s coming the time for New Years resolutions – and I am sure that just about all of us can relate to this being a catalyst for assessing our careers!  So many people take some time over the holidays to have a bit of a look at job vacancies and current pay rates and update their resume.

In fact – updating your resume at least once a year is an extremely good idea!  You never know when you might want to use it and if it’s been a long time, you don’t want the overwhelm of trying to recall everything when you actually need it (believe me – there are an awful lot of people who forgo excellent opportunities, because an out of date resume makes them succumb to the fear that precedes inaction)!

So – we recommend that you take an hour or two over the festive quiet time and update your resume and here are some tips to get it right – so your resume will get NOTICED!

1. Set out your dates roles in order with the current or latest job being first,
2. Be sure to address any gaps – hiring managers look at the gaps and discard you if there is no tangible reason (ie: maternity leave, study leave, carers leave)
3. Achievements mean more than responsibilities!  This is a big one – and if it has been some time since you have updated your resume, you may not know that this is the new expected standard.  If you’ve ever applied for a government job, you will be familiar with ‘demonstrating’ achievements through actual examples – hiring managers don’t want to know what your responsibilities were/are anymore – they want to know what you do and how you achieve your work responsibilities with specific examples!
4.  WATCH your spelling – please, all Australians: understand that if you use American spelling you may just be cutting yourself out of the game before you’ve even had a chance to prove yourself!  Spell check is American, buy a dictionary!
5. Watch your grammar and typo’s – spell check won’t pick up typos (some of my resume ‘favourites’ include: Manger for manager; from for form and there/their for they’re
6. Make sure your font is easy to read and the layout is appealing to the eye – if it’s too condensed without enough white space it will likely be ignored
7. Around 3 pages is a good size to aim for, but again – it is better to have more white space to make it appealing to read, so don’t squash things up, an extra page well laid out is more appealing for the reader
8. Review the WHOLE resume – make sure past roles are in past tense, check for spelling and grammar etc, ask a trusted friend to read it over if you can!

We hope the above tips help you to get started – once you start you will find it easier than you thought (especially if it has been a while since you’ve reviewed you resume).  If you are really stuck, you can engage a professional who will assist you, but with the above tips, you will be ahead of many people who are applying for new jobs!

Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions about how to lay out your resume, or what you should be including!

Last week we discussed that networking is THE most successful way to find a new job, in fact over 75% of jobseekers use this method successfully!  Quite simply an employer is FAR more likely to hire someone who has been referred to them over a stranger.  Networking and creating meaningful business connections is the best way to make sure you are at the forefront when applying for a job!

Last week, I touched on the fact that there is a right way and wrong way to network; this week we’ll give you some great tips and advice to make sure you capitalise on your networking experiences!

What is networking?

Simply speaking networking is connecting with people with a view to mutual interests.  This is quite an important distinction – to be successful at networking, you need to really grasp that it is a two way street.

Why is networking a failure for many people?

If you go into networking only talking about and thinking about yourself, you can pretty much rest assured that people won’t want to help you.  Too many people go to networking events and functions and spend the whole time talking about themselves.  This actually stops you from being memorable – people remember people who make them feel good about themselves!

How do you network successfully?

The BEST way to do this is to get people talking (lets face it, no matter how shy or outgoing we are, we are all flattered when someone wants to know about us or our opinion!).  So ask questions!  Just remember that personal questions are confronting for new people, start with work or industry related questions and then adapt to the conversation – that is, as they talk about something, ask them to elaborate!

What are some great networking tips?

1. Approach networking with genuine intent to connect, if you are fake or pretentious or insincere, forget it.  For networking to WORK you must be genuine!
2. If you are shy – use social networking, FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn are all good ways to find people with similar philosophies!
3. Capitalise on networking, remember the concept of 6 degrees, the person you are talking to might just know another person who can help you (or whom you can help!),
4. Attend events – I know, this seems self explanatory, BUT what I mean is a networking event can lead to a social situation, as much as you may feel nervous or self conscious, do your very best to accept invitations that your gut tells you would be good. Shake off the nerves – even the most confident of people have them!
5. Be generous! The best way to start networking is to think of ways you can help others!  I am a genuine believer in Karma – your expertise or assistance will be rewarded!
6. Follow up and keep in touch – now this is a delicate balance, don’t drive people insane, but if you say you will do something, be sure to follow up!
7. Lastly, the best start you can make networking is to ask the question “tell me about you, what do you do?”…  it’s a great conversation starter!!

Although many people feel shy and apprehensive when they first start networking, it is definitely one of the best things you can do for your career!  My jobs have always been word of mouth because sales is a networking industry – don’t get me wrong, even though I am an extrovert, I still get nervous and self conscious, but the best way to overcome this is to ask others to tell you about themselves!!

Got any tips that you would like to share with us?  How have you successfully used networking?  We’d love to hear your success stories!!

There are many different ways to find a new job, from online seaching (eg: Seek) to mobile alerts (eg: www.jobezy.com.au), from recruitment agencies to government schemes, but there is one method that time and time again works as THE most successful tool for securing a new job!  In fact study after study lists networking as the dominant method used by successful job seekers – more than 75% of the time!

Think about it from a prospective employers’ point of view, if you had a choice between:

1. a stranger: someone who has responded to an ad, who interviewed well and seems to have the right qualification and experience.  They have good references and their work history seems pretty stable, OR
2. a referral: someone that a co-worker has worked with before.  Your co-worker can vouch for their strengths and abilities, the person is well respected and has a good reputation.  They also interview well, have the right qualifications and experience, good references and stable work history.

Who Would You Hire?

The simple fact of the matter is that hiring someone is a massive cost to any business and even worse if the new hire doesn’t work out.  Employers will always hedge their bets!  You can bet that an employer is always going to choose someone when they know more about their suitability to the company and the role, the known is always safer than the unknown!

How do you start to network?

This is the part that can be most difficult if you have never thought of networking to find a new job.  But it is really easier than you think!

1. Tell a trusted friend or colleague in your industry that you are perhaps on the lookout for a new job, if you know that it can be kept confidential from your current employer – tell more than one!
2. Find out what events are attended by people in the same industry/roles you are interested in and go along!
3. Ask your recruiter to steer you in the right direction to events or groups that would assist you in your endeavours!

What is the secret to successful networking?

Once you have found some events to attend or people to connect with, the most important thing is to ensure that you maximise your time networking.  The BIGGEST mistake people make networking is going into it thinking it is all about them.

REMEMBER: networking is a two-way street!

Remember that networking is about listening as much as talking and about helping others as much as helping yourself and you will always find that networking is enjoyable and beneficial!

Come along next week when we’ll give you specific steps in how to network successfully!

It is one of the most common issues in the workplace – inappropriate attire!  And I’m not talking about you guys, where your biggest dilemma is “should I wear a tie or should I leave the top button open”??? – by comparison men, you all have it VERY easy!  You need to make sure you polish your boots, tuck your shirt in and keep your tie straight (or undo that top button if you’re going without a tie!).

For us women, it is an entirely different situation.  ”Inappropriate dress” can cause many a workplace conflict – not only from management, but also from  fellow colleagues!  I was recently witness to one such case – a new lady was dressing in a manner entirely appropriate according to the dress standards for her workplace – she wore skirt suits everyday.  They looked like they were custom made, they fit her beautifully.  She wore stockings and sensible heels, her makeup was beautiful and her hair always immaculate, but her tops under her suit jacket were possibly a little low cut.  Nothing I would say was too revealing, but this very pretty young lady was in for some quite nasty bullying from older co-workers.

Sadly in the end, she left due to “personal reasons”, but I can’t get her out of my head – she met the ‘Corporate Standard’, she was neat, well presented and yet still subject to criticism and ridicule!  It got me thinking – plenty of times we read articles aimed at helping job seekers spruce up their image and help them to dress better to win a role.  But how often do we factor in “peer influence”.

The TRIED & TRUE tip for dressing successfully

• your attire should suit the work environment, eg: if you work on a construction site you will need safety clothing (fluro colours) and a hard hat, if you work in a corporate office-a suit, if you work as a teacher-comfortable good casual clothes; now I know I am generalising – but this is exactly the advice you should heed – GENERALLY: WHAT IS THE EXPECTED NORM FOR THE ROLE?!

The NEW tip for dressing successfully

• your attire should suit your peers, eg: if you work in a corporate office and no one is wearing a tie-find out if ties are not necessary, because if you keep wearing a tie sooner or later someone is going to resent your difference!  If you work in the arts field-is comfortable casual up to your style choice, or is there an unwritten norm? Because if you like to wear Heavy Metal T-Shirts and everyone else is wearing Ralph Lauren polo’s, how long do you think you will be accepted as part of the crowd? GENERALLY WHAT DO YOUR PEERS WEAR??

And this brings me back to my poor young lady above, although she was wearing the accepted corporate wear – guess what??  The other girls in the office were in polo shirts and pants – so even though, by all accepted standards she was in the right – she was made to feel on the outer and judged for her “low” tops (which as I mentioned before were not actually that bad!).

So – you have 2 choices, if you choose to wear your own style, wear it with confidence and face the ‘peer pressure’ head on; but if you don’t want to fight – take the battle by storm and conform to the environmental norm – so people judge you on your work ability not your clothes!

CAVEAT: Always over dress for an interview – even if you know you are going to a casual environment, make the effort to spruce up as if you were going out for a special dinner – trust me, it will pay off!!!