NEXT STEPS IN YOUR
CAREER SEPTEMBER 2019
SUCCEEDING AS A WORKING MUM FROM HUMAN RESOURCES TO GENERAL MANAGER AT SACA
OVERQUALIFIED? How to manage employer's concerns
DREAM JOBS GET PAID FOR GOING TO THE MOVIES!
AND SUSSING OUT SHOPPING CENTRES
© WELLBEINGS FOUNDATION
CAREER
CONTENTS 4 From Human Resources to General Manager at SACA
9 Does this man have the best job in Australia?
13 How to get paid for going to the movies
2 Word - Our Editor's Message 4 From Human Resources to General Manager at SACA - Craig shares how 7 Ten more tips to write an awesome resume
Next Steps in Your CAREER is published by HR Development at Work.
HR Development at Work is an Australian based Human Resources and outplacement consulting service that has assisted hundreds of Australian job seekers to find work they want. HR Development at Work’s services and programs are informed by best practice in positive psychology and psychological wellbeing research. HR Development at Work runs outplacement programs for retrenched workers of all ages and also runs Next Steps – a positive psychology and NLP based program to help unemployed job seekers aged 50+ in Adelaide find work they want. The information in this publication is for information purposes only. The Career Magazine and its contributors assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organisation has been provided by such individual, event organiser(s) or organisation(s) without verification by us. The opinions expressed in each article are the opinions of its author(s) and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Career Magazine. Therefore, Career Magazine carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed therein. Comments are welcome, but they should be ontopic and well-expressed and sent to abbie@developmentatwork.com
9 Does this man have the best job in Australia? THE DREAM JOB SERIES 11 How I run a business with small children 13 Overqualified 15 How to get paid for going to the movies THE DREAM JOB SERIES
Editor Bridget Hogg Design Abbie Allen Contributors Abbie Allen Johanna Milbank
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 1
WORD Our Editor's Message
With economic downturn clearly on our horizon, THIS is the time to be focusing on finding work if you don’t have the amount of work or the type of work you want. Having work we want is key to living a life we love. At Next Steps in Your CAREER we are keen to help job seekers to thrive, we want to help you choose a career direction you are very happy with and we want to support you to pursue your career dreams. Our aim is to provide inspiration, personal development and a new perspective on finding work you want. We are very pleased to have been supported by the job seekers we help with their vote for us in recent awards – we were the winner of the HCBA Professional and Business Services Award 2019. Thank you so much for your support! In this issue we start our series on Dream Jobs by profiling Dean McAskil who seems to spend an inordinate amount of time getting paid to scope out shopping centres and go shopping (sounds like a dream job to me!). We also profile Bronwyn Milson who gets paid to accompany people to dinner (and no she’s NOT an escort, its all above board). If you know someone in a dream job that we should interview please send their details to our editor via bh@developmentatwork.com (you can also nominate dream jobs you’d like to hear about!). You’ll also notice our cover model for Issue 2 is none other than local GM Craig Brooks from the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA). Learn more about a career in Human Resources and how to work your way to the very top by reading our interview with Craig. Craig shares his tips on what to read and how to progress in your career to make it all the way to the top. Many people are finding new job opportunities now and realising that the barriers that they perceived existed are no longer there. Do you ever feel overqualified for the jobs you apply for? Johanna Millbank from DOME (which stands for Don’t Overlook Mature Expertise) has written an article to help those who feel they may be rejected for jobs because they’re perceived as over qualified. If you think this may have happened to you check out the article for some tips on what to do. Of course you don’t need a job to have a career – or to earn the big bucks. Don’t want a job? Want to be an entrepreneur and take on the world? I was inspired by the recent profiles on Channel 7 of Jack Bloomfield, Ali Kitinas and Morgan Hipworth who have set up successful million dollar businesses - and are still at school! Ali jokes she is Australia’s youngest female CEO. If you want to run your own business you might like to hear how local entrepreneur and award winner, Abbie Allen has successfully set up and run her own concierge service business in Adelaide. Abbie helps us put together “Next Steps in Your CAREER” and is an invaluable part of the HR Development at Work team who run the Next Steps program for mature job seekers – read her article to see how entrepreneurs can nail it in Adelaide.
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 2
We hope you love the second part of our Top Ten Tips for Resume Writing article – this one will help you finesse your resume a little more to get yourself int the “yes” pile. This is the second issue of “Next Steps in Your CAREER”. The first issue was launched at the first Employment Consultants conference in Adelaide, sponsored by HR Development at Work. It was a great success. A second Employment Consultants Conference will run in 2020, for Job Active, DES, employment and recruitment advisors. Contact support@developmentatwork.comif you work for a job active/DES or recruiter and would like to be kept in touch and up to date with all things “job seeker” and “careers” in Adelaide. We look forward to receiving your feedback about this magazine. We welcome suggestions and articles from contributors to support the magazine going forward, and your ideas about features you would love to see in future issues. We are also open to offers from a publishing house to turn this online magazine into a hardcopy glossy Careers magazine you can pop on your coffee table. Please contact us at bh@developmentatwork.com Bridget Hogg MAHRI. NLP Practitioner. Professional Member of the CDAA. FGLF. Editor and Principal Writer - Next Steps in Your Career Ph: (08) 8322 8455 bh@developmentatwork.com
Next Steps could be your big leap. When it comes to finding or creating a job... we must either find a way - or make one! 50+? Is your resume opening doors for you? Keen to find a job? FREE EXPERT HELP Join Next Steps Now: FREE Individual 1:1 Mentoring; FREE workshops; connections to opportunities and resources. Visit the website to see the timetable of workshops and too book in www.developmentatwork.com/nextsteps Or contact us with any questions support@developmentatwork.com call/text 0403 941 222
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 3
FROM HUMAN RESOURCES TO GENERAL MANAGER AT SACA - CRAIG SHARES HOW Life’s a set of doors – each one creates another opportunity. Editor, Bridget Hogg, interviews Craig Brooks of the South Australian Cricket Association
W
ant to work in sport but you’re not an athlete? Many people think they would like to work in sport. You don’t have to be an athlete to have a longstanding career in a sporting organisation. Did you realise that many sporting clubs and associations have administration, general management, human resources and other professional roles on offer? Bridget Hogg, Editor of “Next Steps in Your CAREER” speaks to Craig Brooks about his career in sport at the South Australian Cricket Association and discovers Craig’s top tips to reach the upper echelons in a sports organisation via a career in human resources
Did you take the traditional route to get into Human Resources? "No, I was 1 of those typical school leavers that started off in retail. I started at Harris Scarfe as a casual, then moved to fulltime work at Harris Scarfe and progressed to becoming a Buyer. I talked to suppliers, managed promotions, purchased and managed the display of the stock. Back then you did it all. I was approached in my early twenties to assist a consultant doing a time and motion study. I worked on this project for 12 months, attached to the HR department, and it was a great success, they asked me to come onboard in HR – and I never left!"
"Life’s a set of doors – when you start its wide, each one creates another opportunity. I didn’t have a defined career path in the beginning. Sometimes you go through a door and it’s a risk, it’s the wrong door Sometimes it’s a matter of going through a door and it creates an opportunity and brings clarity. Making a decision provides clarity on making better (future) decisions." NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 4
Is it possible to “find your way” into a great paying job in a great organisation? Craig has shown how you can start off in one area (like Retail) and end up pursuing a career in another. Craig has progressed his career in human resources and general management since those early days starting in retail with Harris Scarfe. Having made the move into Human Resources at Harris Scarfe he then worked as HR Manager at Stamford Grand Adelaide after which Craig was promoted to Area General Manager and then Area HR Manager Stamford Plaza. In 2006 he moved into sport accepting the role of Human Resources and Player Development Manager at South Australian Cricket Association (SACA). This was a new role for SACA and they wanted a professional HR Manager with commercial experience. Craig was responsible for assisting players to develop and progress their careers and helped them by providing career advice and information about education and finances to support player career decisions when players left the game. Craig says there were a lot of skills he developed working in the hotels and resort business that transferred across. SACA was, at that time, running the Oval venue, hosting big functions, providing food and beverages, and match day venue management. Craig utilised his contacts and experience to bring key personnel to SACA, turning it into a 5 star function centre. SACA valued his business acumen – which helped SACA turn a venue that is empty most of the time into a profitable venue. What does a Human Resources Manager in sport do? “It’s no different to any other industry, people are the priority of the business” Craig says. “Being a Human Resources Manager in sport is similar to being a HR Manager anywhere else – it involves managing people, managing strategy, developing people and the organisation.” If you weren’t a HR Manager what other careers would have attracted you? Craig says if his career hadn’t taken a turn into HR he would probably have chosen to go down the sales path and would now be in sales or wholesale. In fact, Harris Scarfe offered him a position running a hardware store many years ago. “The important thing I got from retail is dealing with customers – it’s the biggest insight into dealing with people, the biggest learning curve, dealing with the public. They are very valuable skills for a HR career, I loved it as its so people focused.” What are you most proud of in your career? Craig is most proud of the contribution he has made to help SACA transition from the old SACA into the new SACA with the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval. “It’s been hard and also the most rewarding and its been a great success for both the Oval and SA sport.” says Craig. “Getting bipartisan agreement for what was best for the stadium, obtaining agreement from politicians, the sporting public, and the government …to have the public all come together, us focusing on our kids and grandkids and each making sacrifices for the benefit of everybody and all sport” is something Craig is proud to have played a significant role in.
Craig’s Reading Recommendations Start with Why? Simon Sinek The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni
“It’s about capturing hearts and minds. That’s the emotional piece that keeps people motivated along the journey of the organisation.”
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 5
Could someone take the same route as you into HR now or do they need to study? Craig says study is definitely important. “You can get a HR entry level role such as HR Officer or HR Co-ordinator with a tertiary qualification and then work your way up. Craig’s advice is to start where you can get an entry point and shine where you are, that way you are more likely be offered internal promotion. Craig says it doesn’t matter if you start in a small or a large organization, you can specialise in one area of HR (such as learning and development) or generalise across all areas of HR, Craig says. “Opportunities for me have come internally and then I have progressed throughout the ranks.”
How do I get qualifications in HR? Universities offer degree courses incorporating or solely focused on Human Resources and the professional body, AHRI, and TAFE SA are amongst those who offer a Certificate IV in Human Resources.
Is being a Human Resources Manager a wellpaid career? Craig says Human Resources can be a well paid career. A HR Manager would earn a 6 figure salary without too much difficulty at all, depending on the size of the organisation – the larger the organisation the higher the salary is likely to be.
CRAIG'S TOP 3 TIPS FOR CAREER PROGRESSION
1 "WHAT CAN I DO FOR OTHERS?" Always think about the team before me.
2
3
BE PASSIONATE
FIND THE FUN AND HUMOUR IN EVERTHING YOU DO
Show passion for what you do.
Making people laugh goes a long way.
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 6
TEN MORE TIPS TO WRITE AN AWESOME RESUME By Bridget Hogg, HR Development at Work Following on from our article in Issue 1 “Top Ten Tips for Resume Writing” – here is part 2 of that article which outlines some additional expert advice to help you write an awesome resume. Please see Issue 1 of Next Steps in Your CAREER for the first part of this article, so you don’t miss anything. 1. Saving as a PDF Firstly let me add something to what I said in the first article about saving your resume as a pdf. I suggested you save your resume and cover letter as a pdf and then attach it when you send it to an employer or via a site such as Seek. Since then I have been reminded by Seek that some companies use software to look at your resume and spot key words and phrases. These companies may not always say it but they need your resume in Word to do this! To be on the safe side you can call the employer and ask which format they prefer, then the format will be exactly as they want it. Of course, you may not wish to take the time to do this so one alternative is to send both – or guess which they prefer! (Yes, I know, no-one is making this easier for job seekers are they?) 2. Including extras – don’t! Don’t send anything else with your resume and cover letter, unless the employer specifically requests it. There are a few times employers will want more – if they want to see your portfolio (for advertising, modelling and graphic design roles, for example), you will be asked to include it. Obviously where extra information is specifically requested by the employer - provide it.
3. Font and style consistency As a general rule, use just one font in your resume.There are numerous appropriate fonts. Try a Sans-Serif style font such as Arial. I recommend avoiding Times New Roman and Courier because they are not attractive. A resume should be written in a size of font that is easily readable (font size 11 or 12). Use different sizes of fonts for headings (font size 14) and make sure all headings are in the same size font to give your resume consistency. 4. Job and date placement Place the important information on the left hand side (because people scan down the left hand margin when reading quickly). Typically the important information will be your previous job titles (and/or employer names). Think – "what is most important to recommend me for this role?" Make sure the important things are on the left margin so they stand out. PS The dates of your employment are NOT the most important so please don’t leave them on the left margin!
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 4 NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 7
5. Responsibilities and Achievements A resume should be neat and concise. Use bullet points and phrases (not long sentences using “I”, “me” or “my”). List your responsibilities and achievements for your most recent roles using bullet points. Put the most relevant responsibilities and achievements at the top of the lists. If you have a lot of responsibilities in your past roles then maybe just include those that match the responsibilities in the new role, so it all looks relevant. 6. Using verbs Use bullets points starting with a verb (an action word) when describing your responsibilities and achievements. We recommend all verbs are in one tense (for example, they all end in “ed”, such as “managed”, “organised”). Resumes read better when they are written in one tense (past or present). Email bh@developmentatwork.com for a free list of example verbs for resume writing. 7. Referees We suggest that unless the employer asks for referees to be sent, that you do not include referees on your resume. If you wait until an employer specifically requests referees, then you have the chance to brief those referees on the job you have applied for (if the employer asks for referees, then send them). We suggest referees are listed with their contact details and a note of the relationship between the referee and yourself (e.g. previous team leader, work colleague etc.). Include the sentence “Excellent references available upon request” on your resume or in the covering letter.
Mistake to Avoid Many people claim on their resume “Excellent referees available upon request” unless you’re in the habit of hiring out your referees please change this to “references”! 8. Key words These days employers utilise software to search for key words on resumes. Match the key words you use on your resume to the key words the employer is seeking. You may wish to put key words in bold. 9. Training and awards Include all relevant information somewhere on your resume, including awards, current professional memberships, relevant training and any relevant volunteer work. Invent new headings to use on your resume if you need to. 10. Achievements Achievements are what separate an average resume from a great one. Please include achievements on your resumes (such as improvements you made, savings you made for the company, sales growth achieved by your efforts, times when you stood in for the Manager or did several things at once). Write the achievements in the Achievements section for each past job role. If you have a lot of achievements then select 1-3 for each job role only – and ensure these match what the job, that you are applying for, requires (e.g. team work, initiative).
If you would like personal career transition coaching, help to write a resume, or prepare for an interview – please email bh@developmentatwork.com for a personal quote. HR Development at Work provides outplacement services funded by employers in and around Adelaide. If you are a defence spouse we can often provide you with free help with Partner Employment Assistance program (PEAP) Program funding – ask us about it. Contact HR Development at Work on (08) 8322 8455.
9 | BOOKISH MAGAZINE
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 8
DOES THIS MAN HAVE THE BEST JOB IN AUSTRALIA? THE DREAM JOB SERIES Whilst attending the Northern Business Breakfast, our intrepid Editor, Bridget Hogg, found a man who claimed to get paid to go shopping. Sounding too good to be true – in true Bridget fashion, she gave him a test! She mentioned that the best supermarket around Adelaide was probably Foodland at Pasadena – quick as a flash our man found his way there and was pretty impressed! “Without any doubt that is the best supermarket I have ever seen. I haven’t seen every supermarket in Australia but I doubt I will ever see anything like that anywhere else. It was stunning,” he said. Do you ever wish that you could get paid to go shopping, or to go and look at unusual and novel supermarkets? Want to find out more about the man who does this for a living? Bridget Interviewed Dean McAskil to find out more. What exactly is your job? I generally call myself a “Retail Property Consultant.” I can have different titles for each project I am working on. For the District Outlet Centre Adelaide my title is “Retail Manager.” My background is in management, marketing and leasing of retail shops. This means managing the relationships between retail property users and retail property landlords. In simple terms this means shops and shopping centre owners. However, in my world the definition of “retail property” is very broad. It means any business where all or part of the goodwill value of the business is secured by the lease. This can include businesses as diverse as a medical centre or a children’s play centre, or a tavern. Retail leases are very complicated contracts because of the amount of money involved, the value of the businesses, and the fact that most states in Australia have different and complicated legislation governing those contracts. Commercial property is very different. A firm of accountants can move into a building 500 metres down the road and it will not affect the value of their business. An ice-cream kiosk can move 15 metres down the mall in a shopping centre and it could halve their sales. In a commercial office building each floor is identical and the space is generally uniform. In a large shopping centre every shop is a different shape, size and has different service requirements. Is this your dream job? After so many years I do not think I could enjoy anything else. I have never seen anything else that has the exposure to a such a variety of work environments and people. Who would this be a dream job for? Anybody who is confident around people and enjoys the face to face environment. No matter how big or small the deal is, whether a major department store or a small kiosk, I have never seen a lease deal for a shop be completed without the principal parties meeting face to face at least once. You must also be tolerant and attentive to details. The documentation process is exhaustive.
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 9
How could a job seeker get into this job? There are a number of ways to get into this industry but the two most common are marketing and real estate qualifications and then to pursue the major shopping centre owners for an entry level position. For example, many of the larger shopping centre owners employ entry level people in their “casual mall leasing” roles. This means leasing and coordinating the temporary retail space in shopping centre malls. It does not require formal qualifications and gives the person good exposure to the industry while studying. There is a senior and successful shopping centre manager who now manages major regional shopping centres for Westfield who started out as a checkout operator at Target while study marketing part time. I am very proud to have employed her as a clerical assistant to the marketing manager of a small sub-regional shopping centre when she was in her late teens about 20 years ago. How did your career path lead you to this point? I am very comfortable around retail environments and have always enjoyed the “buzz” of retail. I did not plan for this career. It acquired me rather than the other way around. What does a day in your life at work look like? Basically, my day is spent dealing with retailers and their property needs. This means meeting with retailers, negotiating leases and inspecting retail properties. About one third of my working life is spent wandering around shops and shopping centres, about a third is spent travelling, and about a third is spent in my office. And being on the phone a lot! Has your career taken any unexpected turns or had any setbacks that you have overcome? Several. Not least expanding my consultancy practice with considerable investment just prior to the global financial crisis in 2008! The only way to overcome most obstacles in my experience is persistence. Is it a well paid career? Senior Retail Property experts working for major shopping centre owners and developers are extremely well paid.
DEAN'S TOP 3 TIPS FOR CAREER PROGRESSION
1 PERSISTENCE
2
3
PAY ATTENTION
WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER
Listen to what people around you are saying, coworkers, bosses and customers. If you are any doubt about what they want or are saying, ask questions. Never, ever be afraid of looking silly..
Always be looking for more efficient ways of achieving the goals of your business then share that within your organization. Also, don’t expect credit or worry about criticism. People will notice.
DEAN'S CAREER HIGHLIGHT Deans proudest career moment so far has been the shutting down of a freeway with the hugely successful grand opening of a brand new shopping centre (Cockburn Gateways shopping centre in 1999). This is now one of the most successful shopping centres in WA. Dean says “I am most proud of the request the owners of the centre made when we were planning the opening a year out. They jokingly made the request that the grand opening should be so effective that our customers would shut down the adjacent freeway due traffic jams trying to get in to the carpark. That we did. Making the evening news on opening day as people abandoned their cars on the freeway shoulder to walk the last kilometer to the centre over sand”.
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 10
HOW I RUN A BUSINESS WITH SMALL CHILDREN BY ABBIE ALLEN - LIFESTYLE ELEMENTS CONCIERGE Let's just say running a business when you have small children, is no easy feat. Some of the key skills and lessons I've learnt over the last nine years include: · How to ignore a crying child while you lock yourself in a room and attempt to speak professionally to a client. How to type one handed - do anything one handed - especially making coffee! That carrying a scarf with you at all times is a must, in particular for covering up the breakfast they've left on your shoulder whilst clinging to you as you try to leave the house. Having your passenger seat stocked with drinks and snacks makes it totally possibly to run urgent client errands without too many melt downs. You may think I'm joking, but I promise you, I'm not! These are some serious life skills I've learnt. But is it really possible? Can I actually run a business and have young children? My answer is yes! But you must have boundaries. I have learnt this the hard way, in many areas of my life. Yet, having children is certainly a way of forcing yourself to really take a good look at how you design your business to suit your lifestyle, and not the other way round.
Abbie’s Five Tips Here are my top five tips for running a business with children. 1. Plan For The Longer Term Remember they are only little for a short space of time in relative terms, but a long space of time in a business sense. Especially if you have 2, 3 or more children, what you set in place now is going to help you in the future as you add more children to the mix. Don't just make "for now" decisions. Try to implement strategies that are going to last the long haul - like regular child care or babysitting days that extend into the future. We are fortunate that my Mum looks after our girls one day a week and Tim's parents on another. They aren't locked into this permanently i.e. they do take breaks or go on holidays, yet we all know that if and when they are available, this is the arrangement and we are all planning around this. 2. Let Your Clients Know No doubt your clients will know you have children, but make sure you also fill them in on at least some of the details of your 'working with kids' arrangement. Make them aware that some days you will be working from home while the kids are there.
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 11
There will be times when you can't answer their call, or that they may need to understand that we are currently ignoring the crying child in the background so that we can finish this key phone call. No, I don't think it's all that professional to have a child cry in the background but if you keep your clients in the loop or explain to them that you are at home and that you can call them back if they prefer, then more often than not they are happy you are taking their call. On the flip side, know that you don't always have to answer the phone, and if you have a child in the high chair in the middle of lunch, or stuck on the toilet, or throwing a tantrum, then answering the phone is probably not your highest priority in that moment. Remember, your clients are human-beings, and many of them know exactly what you are going through. 3. Block Out Time Now this doesn't always work for me, but one of the best things we did was lock in days with our family when we knew someone else was looking after the kids. This way we know the days we can book appointments, make regular bookings, or allocate time to complete certain tasks. I know that Tuesdays and Thursdays are my complete work days and I can work around this. I work other days too, but they usually involve one or more children which doesn't make things as flexible as child free time. For you it might be a morning, an afternoon, or certain hours every day. If you can make it as much of a routine as possible and avoid changing this plan, then things seem a lot more doable and less stressful. 4. Try To Hide Your Phone Anyone who knows me will testify that they have probably never seen me without my phone! So, I am probably not the best voice of reason on this one, but if you can relinquish the stranglehold on your phone occasionally, then try to spend 15 minutes or half an hour (ok, 5 minutes) playing blocks with your kids without checking your email or seeing how many likes your latest post on Facebook is getting. It's great for your child and will do a world of good for the parent-guilt factor. That being said, I do not belong to the camp that believes it goes against all good parenting if you even pull out your phone for a second at the playground. As one wise mum once said, who cares what the other parents think. As long as your children are safe, they don't know that this may be the only ten minutes you've had all day to get some work done - so do it! This has certainly been my experience. 5. Remember Why You Started Your Business If you are anything like me, you started your business to make it easier to manage work and family. Even though I started my business 7 years prior to having kids, family was always a big part of the reason why I started my business. It is easy to get caught up in the work and feeling as though your clients are 'the boss'. But remember, you're the boss, it's your business, and you can design it the way you want to. It doesn't mean this is always easy, especially when there is the stress of when the next invoice will be paid (or ready to send!) but when time and sanity starts to get away from you, remind yourself that flexibility was a part of this whole 'going out on your own' thing. If you're interested in starting your own personal concierge business or finding a personal concierge to assist you, visit Abbie's website www.theconciergesociety.com
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 12
BY JOHANNA MILBANK OF DOME
OVERQUALIFIED Overqualified. An Adjective, meaning “Having more knowledge, skill and/or experience than is needed (for a particular job).” Cambridge Dictionary
A common issue for older job seekers is the rejection for being ‘Overqualified”. You have years of experience and have gained a number of formal qualifications over your working history and now you find that many employers will not even consider your for a role because you have far more skills than they need. So, why would an employer reject someone willing to work at a lower position when they bring so much added value?
Here are the positives: You will require less training and supervision You are more productive sooner You bring new ideas and experience from past roles; and You can act as a mentor and teacher to other staff boosting moral and staff development The issue is however, that from an employer’s perspective, they see the following: You are expecting a higher salary· You’re a poor fit for the role You will become bored and will not be challenged in the role You might upset the team dynamics being more experienced than those who will be managing you You will leave when something better comes along That you will walk in and try and take over; and/or You will not take direction from less experienced management
So what can you do to challenge these concerns when applying for a role? Clarify why you want the job There could be any number of reasons why you are applying for a lower level role, all very legitimate. They could include: Greater work life balance Less stress and less time-consuming New industry and you feel you need to start at an entry level· Looking to move away from current employer/industry Returning to the workforce after a time away i.e parenting, illness or travel Show you are a good fit for the role Use your cover letter to sell yourself as a good candidate including stating why you are interested in the role, how it fits into your long term goals and what aspects of the role are appealing. Example: it is your dream company and you are willing to start anywhere and are passionate about the company.
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 13
Clearly articulate how your skills match what the employer is looking for – Make sure your skills and qualifications in your application letter and resume match what the employer is looking for.
“Tone down your qualifications and experience to match the key criteria of the role” Bridget Hogg - HR Development at Work Are you over qualified or just differently qualified? i.e. changing industries, be explicit in how your skills are transferable to the new field Choose words carefully iKeep away from words such as “supervision”, “overseeing” or ones that give off a managerial vibe if applying for a nonmanagerial role. Focus on the more work-specific skills that the job requires. Play down titles or leave them off your resume instead listing the company’s name, length of employment and key job duties but as per above choose your words carefully. Be humble If a qualification (even though you worked hard to get it) is not relevant for the job leave it out of your resume. Your resume should be targeted for the reader and is not a record of everything you have done. There is one risk here however, that if you do take out non relevant or higher level qualifications and the employer has other roles more in line with what your skills are, you won’t get referred to these options. This risk is very minimal but one way to check this is to visit the company website and employment pages and ensure you are aware of any other roles currently advertised.
“Resumes should be targeted for the reader, they’re not supposed to be a record of everything you have ever done slapped down in chronological order.” Bridget Hogg - HR Development at Work Keep your resume tailored and relevant to the job being applied for, simple is best but address the criteria for the role. Research the company to find out how your skills will best meet the employers needs Be approachable, friendly and compliant, this is especially important if you are over qualified to allay many fears and concerns from the employer’s perspective Show a willingness to learn, they will be less willing to hire someone that has ‘nothing left to learn’. Remember your skills are an asset to the right business, you just need to find the right match and pitch yourself appropriately.
Editor’s Note: The Australian Human Resources Institute, has written areticles for Human Resource Managers, encouraging them not to discriminate against those who may seem over qualified but also acknowledging there may be a tipping point. Let’s hope eventually the message will get out!
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 14
HOW TO GET PAID FOR GOING TO THE MOVIES! THE DREAM JOB SERIES Our editor, Bridget found that some people are getting paid to go shopping, go to the movies and accompany people to dinner. No, this isn’t an escort service we’re advocating – this is a real job – a career for some. We knew you’d want to find out more – so we interviewed Bronwyn about how to make a career of this – and here are the details!
Is it true? Can you really get paid to go out to the movies, or bowling, or to accompany people to dinner? Yes – it's true! Is it as glamorous as it sounds? It's not all beer and skittles – sometimes there are challenges - but most of the time it's fun and rewarding. What is your job? My title is Recreation Assistant – Mentoring Services. I create leisure options for people with an intellectual disability. Who would this be a dream job for? People who enjoy making a difference in other people's lives. How could a job seeker get into this job? Where would they start? What qualifications would they need? There are a number of organisations in South Australia who provide assistance to people with an intellectual disability. I have a Certificate III in Disability Studies (which incorporates senior first aid) and it is desirable to have a driver's license.
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 15
Want to do this but think you’re “not qualified”? Here’s how! Some support workers don’t need a Certificate 111 – you can be an employee of Hire Up at $30.98 per hour (more in evenings/weekends) and take people out, do cleaning or in home care if you have the necessary experience. They are open to people who can show they have the right personality so if you have cleaned your own house or supported someone in the past and know you’d love this work – this could be for you. Check it out here: https://www.hireup.com.au/become-a-supportworker/. You need a Disability Services Employment check from DHS, a police check, 2 references, an NDIS Worker Orientation Module Certificate that you can do online in 90 mins from their website and CPR or a first aid qualification. If you’re with a job active provider or DES, or any employment program you can probably get help with these costs. HireUp tell us “our selection is based on person to person connection, support workers connect directly with people seeking support on our website, they can message each other”. Once a person selects you to help them you operate as an employee of HireUp. Simple! We know someone who is already doing this and loving it via HireUp.
Is that how you got into this job? How did your career path lead you to this point? I was looking for casual work and noticed an advertisement in my local paper. The hours at that time were 9.30am to 3.30pm – perfect for my school aged son. I applied for the job and the rest is history. I was given the opportunity on the job to complete Certificate III in Disability Studies and have been in my current employment for over 22 years. All staff must keep their qualifications up to date – for example, senior first aid, medical accreditation, fire training. This training is provided at my place of employment. What does a day in your life at work look like? 9am – pick up a lady from her home and go for a coastal drive. We stop for morning tea at a cafe. Then back home by 10.30am. 10.30am – pick up a lady from her home and go for drive. If it is a nice day we stop at the beach or a park and go for a walk. Then home in time for lunch at 12.30pm-1pm – Take a lady out for lunch at a café which is usually a sandwich and drink. She enjoys a strawberry milkshake. Afterwards we go for a drive with the music playing on the radio – she loves music. We have been known to walk the length of a shopping mall and window shop. If it is a nice day we go for a walk along the beach or in a park. Home by 3.30pm. Once a month I take a group ten pin bowling with another member of staff and once a month we take a group to the movies. Has your career taken any unexpected turns or had any setbacks that you have overcome? I must admit, no 2 days are ever the same. I have had some sad times when a customer has passed away. It is always good to think that in some small way, I help to make people's days a little more interesting and hopefully happy. NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 16
What are you most proud of in your career? I am proud to think that I have worked over 22 years in the disability area and still get enjoyment and satisfaction from my job. Is it a well-paid career? Yes – it is quite well paid and there are penalty rates for working over-time, weekends and public holidays. Pay rates can vary quite a bit depending on skills, experience and the types of shift, but as an example, my casual day rate is $35.72 per hour.
BRONWYN'S TOP 3 TIPS FOR CAREER PROGRESSION
1
2
3
BE WILLING TO UNDERTAKE MORE STUDIES
BE OPEN TO CHALLENGES AND “GO WITH THE FLOW”.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS Be totally informed about customers’ requirements and needs.
Bronwyn works for Minda. To find out more about employment opportunities at Minda, go to the Minda website www.mindainc.com.au
NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER | 17
Advantage helps Job Active and Disability Employment Service Providers in South Australia