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7 Survival Tips When You’re Made Redundant

If you’ve been made redundant, you’re either in shock, or it was expected. Regardless, you’re faced with one of life’s most difficult setbacks. It can happen at any age and any stage of your career. It’s often a shocking and upsetting experience. But you can feel more confident after being made redundant, especially if you think of it as a forced fresh start!

Like they say when one door closes – jump out the window! Okay, so they say another door opens, but it’s more fun to jump out of the windows! But seriously, your state of mind makes all the difference when faced with adversity, so try to stay positive with our seven survival tips!

What is Redundancy?

According to Fair Work Australia, redundancy is defined as being genuine when:

Your job doesn’t need to be done by anyone
Your employer followed any consultation requirements in the award, enterprise agreement or other registered agreement

Why Were You Made Redundant?

Fair Work Australia states that redundancy occurs when an employer either:

Doesn’t need the job to be done by anyone, or
Becomes insolvent or bankrupt

A redundancy is likely to occur when a business:

Introduces new technology (a job can be done by a machine)
Slows down due to lower sales or production
Closes down
Relocates interstate or overseas
Restructures or reorganizes due to a merger or takeover

You’re Not Alone

Redundancy is normal and will not impact finding another job, so don’t shy away from it. You can write that your job ended due to the position being made redundant. According to the employment website SEEK, more than 1 in 4 Australians (26%) have had their role made redundant at some point in their working lives. Further, at least half of us know someone who has been made redundant or impacted ourselves. And keep in mind this data was taken before the pandemic, which has seen global redundancy rates skyrocketing. So, you’re certainly not alone.

How to Recover from Redundancy

While it might feel overwhelming at first, you can recover from redundancy and find a more rewarding job. Through keeping a positive attitude and being organized, you’ll soon be over this hurdle and onto your next challenge. So, you’ve been made redundant. What’s next? We’ve put together seven important tips to help you get back up after the shock of redundancy.

Get the language right

Be aware of how you talk about your experience. Instead of saying ‘I was made redundant, which has negative connotations, say ‘my role was made redundant. It helps to separate yourself from what has happened. You shouldn’t take it personally because redundancy does not reflect your work ethic or ability to do your job. It’s simply that the job no longer exists. You do, and you’ll most likely go on to bigger and better things after redundancy.

Organise your finances

When faced with redundancy, one of the most overwhelming feelings is about personal finances. You should make a budget of your living expenses and determine how to manage essential expenses. If you have a mortgage, talk to your bank. They are often helpful in arranging to put repayments on hold when you’re in a financial crisis. We saw how banks responded during the pandemic, and a personal financial situation is no different. You should also contact the Department of Human Services to see if you’re entitled to any benefits while you search for your next job.

Consider taking on temporary work

Don’t rush into a job because you feel stressed about being made redundant. If you need to get back on track financially, consider taking on freelance or contract work until you’re sure about your next permanent move. Finding this type of work allows you to structure your week, maintain motivation and gain financially while also providing breathing space to think. If you don’t find temporary work straight away, that’s okay too. Take time to process what’s happened, and if you feel you need to stay busy, volunteer your services to a community group or organization.

Reflect on your career direction

Were you happy in your last job? If not, consider changing directions in your career. Now’s an excellent opportunity to follow a passion, start a business, or study for a dream job. If you’re not sure about your new direction, you don’t have to spend a fortune on education to find out. Consider short, professional development courses in the area you’re interested in before diving into a higher education degree.

Banish negative feelings

An adverse event can have you spiralling into a negative headspace, which won’t help your mental health. Make sure you plan your day and include time for exercise, fresh air, healthy eating and self-reflection. If you need some professional help, reach out to your GP to refer you to a mental health professional. Talking about your experience will help you process what’s happened and move into a more healthy state of mind. Remember, you’re not alone – and you’ll be back on your feet again in no time.

Work on your resume

This is an ideal time to dust off your resume and make it shine. Spend time updating your work history, education and referees. Ask your last manager if they’d be a referee. Better yet, ask for a written letter of recommendation. You should also update your LinkedIn and let your contacts know you’re looking for work (in fact, put out a message on all social channels – friends can give the best recommendations!).

Stay connected to your tribe (or make new connections)

It can feel isolating to be made redundant, especially if all your family and friends are working. It’s important to reach out to people who will help you emotionally. Make plans to catch up for dinner or during their work lunch for a bite to eat. If you’re feeling adventurous, now’s a great time to join a group fitness class (even a free Parkrun) or start a new hobby and expand your social network. Be brave – it will make you stronger!

Being made redundant isn’t easy but stay the course, and you’ll be back working in no time. Research shows that 60 per cent of Australians made redundant find another job within two months. But don’t despair if you’re in the 40 per cent that takes a little longer. It just means you’ll have more time to consider your options.

Discover hundreds of online professional development courses today – it might open your eyes to a new direction you didn’t see coming!

15 Valuable Job Interview Tips

Congratulations! You’ve spent hours fine-tuning your resume and you’ve managed to land an interview! However, now you need to deal with the actual interview process. One of the most valuable job interview tips? Be prepared. Whether you are looking for a job in the education, creative, medical, retail, IT or hospitality sectors (to name just a few), interviews typically follow a basic process.

However, the nuances of an interview can differ depending on the industry, the organisation and what the company is looking for in an employee. Here are 15 valuable job interview tips that will ensure you are primed, prepared and ready to face the interview head on!

1. Research the company and the industry

Interviewers will often probe to discover how much you know about the organisation. In other words, if you’ve done your research! So before your interview, find out as much as you can about the company, its competitors and your role in the business. Keep your research specific to the industry so your answers are as relevant as possible.

2. Clarify the reasons you want the job

One of the most valuable job interview tips is to prepare to go into every interview with your top “selling points” in mind that will outline what makes you the best candidate for the position. You should also be prepared to tell the interviewer job-specific details, including what abilities it requires that you possess, what interests you about it, and what rewards it offers that you find valuable.

3. Anticipate the interviewer’s reservations

Multiple candidates are often interviewed for the one position, so interviewers will screen interviewees to pinpoint those that will be most suited to the job. One valuable tip is to put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes and ask yourself why they may not want to hire you. Anticipating their reservations will allow you to be prepared with a defence.

4. Prepare for common interview questions

There are ton of interview questions that you might be asked and also a ton of websites that will provide their own recommendations on questions you should be prepared to answer. (Here is Seek’s take on the matter – Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them). But with so much advice on offer, how do you prepare? Think about your age, work status, the job you’re after, and the organisation you’re hoping to work for. Then it’s just a matter of narrowing the list down!

5. Prepare questions for the interviewer

Another one of our job interview tips is to prepare a list of questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your knowledge of the organisation as well as your serious intent. Interviewers almost always ask if you have any questions. If you don’t have any, they might assume you’re not really interested in the role. One good all-purpose questions is, “If you could design the ideal candidate for this position, what would he or she be like?”

6. Practice, then practice again

You may be all over your preparation in terms of having answers to possible interviewer questions. But will you answer them in a confident and convincing way? A great tip is to practice with a couple of friends. Practice interviewing each other in a “round robin” process where one person acts as the the observer and the interviewee gets feedback from both the interviewer and the observer. Do this a few times, switching roles as you go.

7. Have good presentation and body language

One of the most important job interview tips is to make sure you have good hygiene, are presented well and display positive body language. You should be aware of the company culture and dress code. When in doubt (and depending on the job), men should wear a suit and women their best professional attire. Even if it’s a more casual environment, a good rule of thumb is to dress up a notch. Better to be safe than sorry! You should also have good posture, make eye contact and speak clearly.

8. Make the most of the “Tell me about yourself” question

Many interviewers begin interviews with this question, and the response shouldn’t necessarily be about your family, your fur baby or your favourite Netflix series (unless they ask you specifically of course!) The best way to respond is to list things you think they will find important and relevant for the role, and then mention that you are happy to expand upon them if required.

9. Aim for success in the first five minutes

Some studies have shown that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five minutes of the interview! The rest of the time, they look for reasons to confirm their decision. So what can you do to set yourself up for success in those five minutes? Enter the interview with enthusiasm and energy and thank the interviewer for their time. Then start with a positive comment about the company and express how excited you are to be possibly joining it.

10. Make your selling points clear

Even if you do communicate your selling points during an interview, does the interviewer truly understand what they are? To ensure they do, don’t bury your selling points in long-winded comments. Be precise with them and then give examples. It’s also important you don’t dwell on past negative experiences during an interview. Even if asked specifically about them, round out your response with a positive by admitting that although a certain job or experience was tough, you embraced the challenge … and you’re now after a new one!

11. Be on the same side as the interviewer

Some interviewers view job interviews as adversarial — candidates are hoping for an offer and the interviewer is trying to hold back on giving one! It’s your job as an interviewee to transform this “tug of war” into a relationship where you’re both on the same side. It could be as simple as expressing that you are happy to have the chance to learn more about the company, and the interviewer learn more about you.

12. Be assertive but not overbearing

Usually assertive candidates sometimes become overly passive during job interviews, often in the effort to be polite. However, politeness doesn’t equate to passivity. An interview should be just like any other conversation — a process in which you and the interviewer both input and respond to each other. Ultimately though, it is your responsibility to make sure you walk away with the interviewer knowing as much as they can about your key selling points.

13. Be ready to handle inappropriate questions

In a perfect world, no interviewer will ask illegal or inappropriate questions, however it can happen. Questions about your age, race, religion, gender and marital status are often taboo. One of the important job interview tips is to be prepared. With your response, it can be as simple as saying something like, “I’m not sure how that’s relevant to my application” or “I’ve not decided about whether children will be part of my future, but I can assure you, that at this stage, I’m committed to my career”.

14. Close on a positive note

If you get to the end of the interview and decide you really want the job, make it clear. Tell the interviewer you are really interested in the role and would be excited about working for the company. You could say something like, “I know my strongest abilities are (insert them here) and I see these as being the abilities you most need for this position”. If you follow this tip, you’ll not only be explaining why you think the job is a good match, but subtlety saying you’ll accept it!

15. Follow up with a thank you

To write a good thank you email, spend time after the interview jotting down a few things you and the interviewer discussed. Customise the email by referring specifically to some of the conversation points. For example, “I was particularly excited about what you said about …”. Also write down what you could have done better in the interview and make adjustments before you head off to the next one!

You’ve Graduated! Congratulations … What’s Next?

After graduation, the first thing on your mind is probably how to get a job (with little or no experience)! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…you still need to graduate officially.

If you’ve completed your online course, congratulations! It takes persistence and motivation to graduate from a course, no matter the subject or length of the study. So, pat yourself on the back and take time to acknowledge your achievement – and celebrate it!

But once you’ve basked in your accomplishment, you might be wondering what’s next. There are still a few more steps before you hold that prized certificate in your hands and a few more after that to ensure all your hard work doesn’t go unrewarded. So, first, make sure your assessments are complete and take steps to register for your graduation.

Submit Your Assessment

Once you’re sure all your assessments are complete, submit your assessments to your tutor for marking. Your tutor will take between seven to 14 days to complete the marking of your course and will be in touch with your results.

If you have completed all your assessments, your tutor will direct you to registration to graduate.

Register to Graduate

Once you have submitted all your assessments and your tutor has marked your course as complete and competent, you must register to graduate.

On our website, you can do this under Student Support – Manage Your Graduation – Your Graduation.

Simply fill out the form, tell us about your study experience and your Graduate Certificate and Statement of Results will be one the way!

Receive Your Graduate Certificate

When your registration is received, you’ll obtain your electronic Graduate Certificate and a Statement of Results via email. Now, how to get a job? You’re looking for a new direction but may be lacking experience.

How to Get a Job After Graduation

It might seem like the hard work’s over, but in reality, if you want to find your dream job, it’s only just begun. It can be challenging to find work without experience, but the following tips will help you get there faster (and calmer)!

Invest in digital and soft skills

How are your digital skills? Are they current? Most jobs require you to be familiar with technology, especially the cores skills in creating documents, email and Microsoft Office programs. It’s also helpful to have at least basic knowledge of social media, even if technology isn’t your strong point.

Soft skills in written and verbal communication, time-management, leadership and project management are also helpful when applying for jobs.

Write a good resume

Your resume is your first point of contact between you and a potential employer. Done well, it’s a powerful sales tool. It should showcase your education, skills and experience. Brief is always best, so cut out any unnecessary information. Lastly, stick to the employer’s submission guidelines and attach a professional cover letter or formal email to accompany your resume.

Look for work experience or volunteer

Now you have your education, it’s time to get the necessary experience for the job you’d like to pursue. Whether it’s part-time, casual or even voluntary – all experience counts. So don’t discount any work that provides experience in your dream career.

Practice your interview skills

Once you’ve captured a potential employer’s attention, it’s time to meet! A job interview doesn’t have to be a terrifying experience, but it helps to be prepared. Practice beforehand, be honest and be on time.

Connect with a career advisor

A career advisor or recruitment agency can help you find a job that suits your skills, education and preferences. Career professionals are also the best people to consult on honing your resume and interview skills, so you’ll learn how to get a job (even without much experience).

Gather your references

Whether it’s a past employer, coach or even a teacher – all references are good references (if they’re positive, of course!). If there’s a decision to be made about filling a role, and all skills and education are equal, references are the next step in filling a role. A good referee will also be the final port of call before you’re offered a job.

If you’re looking for your dream job, we wish you the best of luck. Remember, be prepared and be yourself – you can’t go wrong!

Do You Still Need Help?

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9 ‘No-Qualification’ Jobs That Are In-Demand Now!

No degree? No drama, according to the latest research by Seek Australia, which shows there are nine in-demand jobs that you can apply for right now without qualifications.

The impact of COVID-19 has seen massive changes in both industries and people’s mindset about what work should look like. Fortunately, change often spells opportunity and career-wise, it’s a great time to rethink your priorities and life goals. Do you want more time with your family? Are you in a career rut? Are you looking to turn a passion into a paying profession? It’s all possible, and you don’t need to spend a fortune on education to make it a reality.

So, let’s take a look at SEEK’s most in-demand jobs that you can apply for right now without qualifications!

Merchandiser

Do you have an eye for design? Would you like to style in-store displays and plan exhibitions? If so, visual merchandising is the ideal career for you.

Seek says – Job ads are up 257% for this role!

Jump the job applicant queue with our Certificate of Visual Merchandising!

Retail Sales Assistant

Are you a people person? If you enjoy working with others and meeting new people, have a natural sales ability and thrive in a customer service environment, you should consider an exciting career in retail.

The Retail industry is one of Australia’s largest employers and provides an excellent opportunity for those entering or re-entering the workforce, as jobs are plentiful. This industry is also one of few that offers flexibility in working hours with part-time, weekend and night work.

Seek says – Job ads are up 266%!

If you’d like to improve your chances of landing a role, why not enrol in a short professional development course like our Certificate of Retail?

Dental Assistant

Dental assistants (or dental nurses) prepare patients for dental examinations and assist dentists with instruments, treatments and X-rays.

Seek says there’s something to smile about—job ads for Dental Assistants are up 255%!

Increase your job prospects with a professional development course like our Certificate of Dental Reception and Office Administration!

Retail Store Manager

If you work in retail and want to launch your career in a leadership or managerial role, we’ve got good news for you!

Seek says job ads up 211% for retail store managers.

Bump your application to the top of the pile with our Certificate of Retail Management!

Salesperson

Whether you sell products or services, salespeople with ambition can earn enviable salaries. You can work in various environments, from retail to real estate, automotive or telecommunications, depending on your interests.

The good news – training is often on the job, and Seek says job ads are up 200%!

Give yourself the edge with our Overcoming Objections to Nail the Sale.

Delivery Driver

If you love to drive and prefer to work solo, a job as a delivery driver could be the perfect job for you.

Are you going somewhere? You are if you want to work as a delivery driver because Seek says job ads up 175%.

You’ll need a driver’s licence and a positive attitude – but why not lift your skillset with our Road Transport Driver Program?

Warehouse Storeperson

You’re fit as a fiddle and want to stay that way with an active job. It sounds like you’d make an ideal warehouse storeperson.

Seeks says job ads up 160%!

A forklift licence is highly valued, but you can double your chances of success with an online professional development course like our Certificate of Warehouse Operations and Recordkeeping.

Personal Carer

Would you like to feel empowered to work in a home or community care setting to provide the utmost care to those most vulnerable in society? If caring for others is your superpower, you’d make an outstanding personal carer.

Care for a change of career? You’re in luck because job ads are up 156%!

If you want to boost your success as an applicant, you might care to take a professional development course like our Certificate of Home and Community Care.

Employment Consultant

If helping people gain meaningful employment and achieve career goals appeals to you, you’d make a great Employment Consultant.

Considering so many people are rethinking their careers right now, it’s little wonder jobs are up 120%.

You don’t need formal qualifications as an Employment Consultant, but strong communication and interpersonal skills in a customer-service role are important. Why not up your odds of getting this job with our Certificate of Employment Services?

So, if you’re interested in one of these in-demand jobs, now’s the perfect time to pursue an opportunity. Consider one of the related courses on offer and make sure your resume is top-of-mind when employers look to fill a role. You’ll also be investing in yourself – what better way to positively move towards the new normal?

Can Managers Learn Emotional Intelligence?

People skills can make all the difference when it comes to carving out a successful career, according to psychologists and career counsellors. In fact, emotional intelligence (EQ) may be more important than IQ when it comes to getting ahead in the workforce.

So, what is emotional intelligence? How do you know if you’re emotionally intelligent or in need of training? We spoke to a psychologist and leadership coach to find out.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

Therese Lardner, Psychologist and Leadership Coach, assists human resources executives to understand and improve their EQ, leading to better leadership and more engagement at work.

“I have explored the impact of emotional intelligence on resilience and mental health in my upcoming book, “How to avoid burnout: the ultimate guide to reducing stress, revitalising energy and re-igniting your career.

“Every manager will have strengths in some areas of emotional intelligence and challenges in others.

“The first step, though, is building emotional self-awareness because this is the foundation of all the other elements of emotional intelligence.

“If you boost emotional self-awareness, it’s much easier then to work on the other elements,” said Ms Lardner.

To do this, you need to support managers to understand the physiological information that their body is sending, explained Ms Larder.

“It could be the knot in their stomach, the tightness in their throat or their racing heartbeat.

“Then, it’s a matter of boosting managers’ emotional vocabulary – the nuanced words they must draw on to describe how they’re feeling.

“Once managers have improved in this area, it’s much easier to coach them around increasing their empathy or emotional self-management.”

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership.

Leadership and emotional intelligence go hand-in-glove, said Ms Lardner.

“Having strong emotional intelligence is vital to being able to communicate a compelling vision for the future, having real conversations with team members around performance and development and ensuring that talent is mobilised within the team to deliver results.

“There is a raft of research to show that higher emotional intelligence leads to better communication and collaboration, improved customer service and stronger job performance overall.

“It also has an impact on resilience and mental health.”

How to Identify If You’re Lacking Emotional Intelligence

It can be challenging to gauge your emotional intelligence, and it may only be after an ‘incident’ that you have insight.

“Individuals will sometimes recognise challenges around their emotional intelligence after the fact, like a conversation not going to plan or missing cues from other people that then lead to conflict.

“Some of us, though, have very little insight into our emotional intelligence and the impact that has on others as a result.

“The most objective way to find out about emotional intelligence is to measure it.

“There are several emotional intelligence assessment tools available on the market. However, you need to choose the test wisely.

“Choose one that is valid and reliable, as well as based on a behavioural model of emotional intelligence.

“If you want to improve the emotional intelligence of your leaders, there’s no use choosing a tool that views it as a fixed ability that can’t be developed.”

Does a Low EQ Score Mean I’m Insensitive?

If the part of emotional intelligence that you find challenging is empathy or awareness of the emotions of others, it can mean that you are insensitive.

“This often means that picking up on emotional cues in others is difficult and that can lead to responses and reactions to others not hitting the mark.”

The Consequences of Leaders with a Low EQ.

If a manager doesn’t have the capacity to manage their emotions, their emotional reactivity will cause problems, explained Ms Lardner.

“If a leader doesn’t have a strong capacity to manage their own emotions, they will tend to be quite emotionally reactive and will say and do things in the heat of the moment that they regret later.

“Managers who find it difficult to communicate emotions in an authentic way will find it hard to engage their teams in change and ‘sell’ people on solutions and ideas.

“Overall, communication, collaboration and decision-making will be impacted by having lower emotional intelligence.”

If you manage others and have had interpersonal conflicts more regularly than most, it might be time to measure your EQ to discover if you need to develop your emotional intelligence to help you be a better leader.

Australian Online Courses

We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality professional development online courses in Australia to boost your career prospects in any industry.

Our unique eLearning platform allows you to study around life, work and family commitments from the comfort of home, or anywhere that suits your learning, at your own pace.

So, what are you waiting for? If you’re serious about taking your career to the next level, enrol in a flexible, online professional development course today.

Resignation: How to Make a Smooth Exit

A graceful exit is the only way to go for professionals who want to avoid burning bridges while progressing their career. A graceful resignation also puts you in a favourable position when it comes to receiving excellent references.

How to Write a Resignation Letter

When you accept a new position, it’s time to write a resignation letter. But not before you’ve received an official ‘letter of offer’ and are aware of any contractual agreements in place with your current employer, explained Life Coach Heather Currie.

“Before you hand in your resignation, ensure you have re-read your signed contract to identify your notice period and to be aware of any other important contractual details.

“If you’re in an industry where you are likely to be “walked” on the day, subtly plan to clear out your desk and get your administrative affairs in order before you hand in your notice.

“If you’re leaving a legacy and with lots of internal knowledge that may be undocumented, you may consider preparing a short handover document in good faith, in case your last day is the day you hand in your resignation,” said Ms Currie.

Joseph Liu, Career Consultant & Host of the Career Relaunch Podcast, said because resignation letters are filed with a human resource department, it’s essential to keep it positive and diplomatic.

At the very least, Mr Liu recommends the following:

State that you are formally resigning from your job and the date you intend to depart, acknowledging any notice period you’re required to serve as part of your employment contract.
Include positive anecdotes both of what you’ve gained from your role and one of your key contributions.
Convey that you would like to keep the doors open to returning in the future if your circumstances change. After all, you never know what the future holds.

Ms Currie agrees: “A resignation letter should be calm, clear, concise and professional as this will stay on the company’s records.

“If you have constructive feedback or otherwise for the organisation before you leave, speak to your manager, human resources department or request an Exit Interview if this is not automatically offered – don’t include this in your resignation letter.”

How to Give Notice

If you can book in a short fifteen-minute meeting with your manager, before formally handing in your notice, this is advisable, said Ms Currie.

“Book this at the beginning of the day, so your manager and team have time to process and start the formal exit procedures.

“You can specify at this stage how you would like this to be announced and what part you play in this procedure, but this will be at the discretion of your manager.

“If you have any feedback on your experience and constructive criticism or ideas, let your manager know that you would appreciate an opportunity to share this before you leave.

“It may not be appropriate to do it at the time of resignation, and it will allow your manager, team, and organisation to process your decision,” said Ms Currie.

How to Handle the Exit Interview

Prepare to be fair, honest and professional, advised Ms Currie.

“There is a huge difference between giving emotive, unconstructive feedback and constructive professional feedback.

“It is, perhaps, an emotional time depending on your tenure and experience at the company, and you can let them know how you felt during your time there.

“If you are raising any issues, give tangible examples, impacts, and timeframes, so this can be formally documented and can be potentially useful in the future.

“It is often important to attend an exit interview to give closure and share details of your experience and areas for improvement in a way that doesn’t burn your bridges.

“Overall, keep interactions polite, civil and professional under all circumstances.

“If you had a bad experience, give feedback in a way that can be used and then move onto your new opportunity.

“Most industry networks are quite tight-knit so don’t do or say anything that could compromise your reputation or undermine your experience, work and value that you have brought to the company during your time,” said Ms Currie.

Resignation, especially if you’ve been with a company for a long time, can be daunting. But resignation done the right way will keep your career moving in a positive direction without burning bridges.