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Career Advice for When You’re Still Figuring It Out

If you’re unsure about what you want to be ‘when you grow up,’ you’re not alone. But it’s not just young people who haven’t found their path. Many of us need to try a few different careers on for size before finding the right fit. In fact, today, young people will work in as many as 17 different jobs across five careers in their lifetime. If that doesn’t put things into perspective, then take comfort in the fact that about 85 per cent of the jobs in 2030 don’t even exist yet!

So, if you have no idea what you want to do, don’t worry, your dream job may not be invented yet. The best way to deal with career indecision is to take the pressure off. The following career advice offers six practical, low-pressure steps to make progress without having everything figured out.

Step 1 – Give Yourself Permission Not to Know (Yet)

Creating a career plan can be overwhelming at the best of times, so if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to do, it’s easy to get stuck. But you don’t have to have it all worked out to move towards finding a career you love. Try switching your focus from the end goal (a dream job) to reflecting on your interests and strengths, which will help guide further study.

When you reframe studying as exploring interests rather than a lifelong commitment, you take the pressure off. It’s often better to choose something rather than wait for certainty because you never know where that new knowledge will take you.

It’s okay to settle for a vague plan for now as long as you take small, practical steps in the right direction.

Ask yourself:

What subjects spark your curiosity?
What transferable skills will help you in any career?
What kind of work environment suits you best at this stage of life?
What are you naturally good at?

Step 2 – Notice What Lights You Up

Your interests don’t need to steer you in a clear career direction, but they do offer valuable clues. Think about what gives you energy.

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors, or do you prefer an office environment?
Do you find fulfilment in creative expression, hands-on tasks or helping others?
What activities make you lose track of time or leave you feeling energised rather than drained?

When you pay attention to what naturally holds your interest, even outside of work or study, it can lead to meaningful career choices. These signs can point to study choices that support how you like to think, work and interact with the world. When you recognise what motivates and energises you, get curious about what that means in terms of study and a career.

Step 3 – Follow Your Curiosity

You don’t need a five-year career plan to make progress. We’re not all planners, but everyone’s capable of curiosity. When you capitalise on your interests and strengths, they grow into skills – and skills become careers.

It might help to think of your future career as a journey, rather than a destination. After all, it’s likely that you’ll have more than one career in your lifetime. Along the way, enrol in a course, read books on a topic you’re passionate about, and keep putting one foot after the other.

Being curious reduces the fear of making the wrong choice and can lead you to discover opportunities you didn’t know existed. In this instance, curiosity will not kill the cat. On the contrary, this piece of career advice encourages exploring, experimenting and learning more about yourself.

Step 4 – Explore Careers Through Small, Low-Risk Experiences

Curiosity over commitment is the best way to find direction when you’re not sure what you want to study. If you’re looking for practical, low-risk ways to explore different types of careers, try the following:

Enrol in short courses, micro credentials or workshops to get a feel for a subject.
Read articles, watch videos, or listen to podcasts related to industries you find interesting.
Volunteer, job-shadow, or take on part-time or casual work to gain real-world experience
Start a small side hustle or hobby that lets you explore new skills
Reflect regularly on what you enjoyed, what you didn’t, and what surprised you. You might even try keeping a ‘career diary’ to keep track of your experiences.

When you engage in these kinds of experiences, you’ll find that your interests bring clarity without the pressure of committing to a single career direction.

Step 5 – Talk to People Doing Work That Interests You

Curious about a career? Go directly to the source! What better way to find out about a career that interests you than to ask a person currently working in that job? When you have these conversations, you’ll discover meaningful and honest insights that aren’t easily gained otherwise. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to talk to people in a role that interests you, you’ll gain honest experiences that help you understand what a role is really like day to day.

Ask the following questions to gain real career advice:

What does a typical day or week look like in your role?
What skills are most important for doing this job well?
What surprised you most when you first started in this field?
What are the biggest challenges or pressures in this career?
How did your study or training prepare you (or not prepare you) for the work?
What entry-level roles or experiences would you recommend for someone starting out?
How has this career changed over time, and where do you see it heading?
What do you wish you’d known before choosing this career?

Career knowledge is valuable when it comes from the source and reflects real-world experience. It’s these types of conversations that provide real insight you can’t find in a course catalogue or online. So, reach out to friends, family, or colleagues who can introduce you to someone in your desired career.

Step 6 – Find Your Direction Over Time, Not Overnight

Career direction is something most people find over time. Sure, some knew what they wanted to do before they could walk, but they’re in the minority. So, if you’re struggling to find your dream career, remember that it’s perfectly acceptable to change your mind, and you’re never too old to learn something new. As long as you’re making progress, you’ll eventually start to understand what feels right for you. The experiences you gain, whether through study or work, will ultimately help you find your true north.

Whether you’re a young person stepping into the workforce for the first time or a mature-age career changer looking for something new, we hope this career advice gives you the confidence move forward. Remember, it’s often the pressure to decide too soon, not a lack of direction, that keeps us feeling stuck. So, give yourself permission to explore, grow, and choose when you’re truly ready.

Can we help you find your new direction? Explore hundreds of professional development courses that might spark your next career move today. Contact one of our friendly Course Consultants on 1300 76 2221, via Live Chat, or Online for more information.

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!

7 Unlawful Interview Questions (And How to Respond if Asked)

Interviews are a nerve-wracking experience at the best of times. But if you’re asked one of these unlawful interview questions, it’s important to know how to respond.

Principal Lawyer Trent Hancock of McDonald Murholme says you should never be asked unlawful interview questions in an interview.

If you do happen to find yourself in this uncomfortable position, you can decline to comment.

So, which are the illegal interview questions, and what’s the best way to respond?

Unlawful interview questions

According to Mr Hancock, you should never be asked the following questions in an interview as they are unlawful.

Are you in a same-sex relationship?
How old are you?
What’s your ethnic background?
What religion are you?
Are you pregnant or planning to start a family?
Who do you vote for?
Do you have a physical or mental disability?

“If an interviewer steps out of line and asks an unlawful question, an interviewee can politely decline to answer the question on the basis that the answer is not relevant to their ability to perform the role.

“Ideally, this response will cause the interviewer to realise their misstep and withdraw the question,” said Mr Hancock.

Questions are unlawful because they breach anti-discrimination laws and the Fair Work Act, explained Human Resource Professional, Yvonne Walker.

“Any questions regarding sex, race, disability, carer status or religion are unlawful if not directly relevant to the job”.

Ms Walker says employers should always frame the question in terms of the job requirements, not the characteristics, such as “This role requires night shift work. Is there anything that would stop you from being able to work night shift” rather than, “Who will look after your children if you are called into work night shift.”

When an employer fails to ask a question appropriately, you can either decline to answer based on the fact that the interview question is unlawful or answer by addressing the job requirement.

“Obviously and unfortunately many employers still ask questions that could be unlawful.

“The best way for a candidate to handle it, if they still want the job after being asked it, is to relate their answer to the job requirements.”

If asked: “How will you handle the school pickup?”

Response: “I have arrangements in place to ensure it won’t impact on me doing my job.”

Power Dynamics and Interviews

Interviews are daunting, and it’s easy to feel like the interviewer has all the power. After all, they have something you want – a job. But don’t forget that you also have something they want – experience, skills and the energy to make their job easier and add value to their business.

So, if you’re asked an unlawful question or even one that you deem to be inappropriate or insensitive, don’t be afraid to decline to comment.

If You Experience Discrimination

If you do feel you were asked an unlawful interview question and have been discriminated against, you can contact the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Australian Online Courses

If you’re looking for an online training provider that offers quality content, reasonable course fees and superior student support, choose Australian Online Courses for your professional development.

Simply visit us online to discover hundreds of flexible, online, professional development courses covering almost every industry sector. Or contact one of our friendly Learning Consultants on 1300 762 221 or via Live Chat.

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