Is it time for a new career or job?

Are you looking for a change? Something to spice up your life? Well, if the Spice Girls could switch up their careers in the 90s, then you can too.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Job Mobility research, 2.3 million Australians left or lost their jobs in the year ended February 2023. One-third of these former employees were looking for something better, or just wanted a change. 

If you’re no longer feeling fulfilled at work, you envy other people’s success, or you aren’t feeling challenged anymore, you might be primed for a career change, Kristine Tuazon director at Good People HR says. 

‘If you feel like it’s time to move on, a good place to start is here and now. Take stock of your current situation, talk to your network, and try to figure out what you want from your next role to guide your next steps and find the change you’re looking for,’ Kristine says.  

Standing out. 

Job searching takes a bit of effort. But you can cull the search time and make a great impression by capturing your brilliance by writing a killer resume.

All job applications and resumes should have one or two sentences about why you’re the right fit for the role. This is a great way to showcase your experience and personality from the get-go. Also, it’s important to include your relevant roles and articulate how those skills match the selection criteria. 

Highlight your experience, achievement and skills, and make sure you tailor your resume for each new role you apply for. Use the keywords in the selection criteria to write the covering letter. For example, if the job ad asks for people with customer service skills to apply for the role, include your relevant customer service experience in the first section of your cover letter and resume. 

Knowing what not to divulge in a resume is also critical. There’s no need to share your age or a photo of yourself, or the fact that you pick fruit over the summer break for extra cash if that’s not relevant to the new role. And don’t share your salary expectations just yet, either. 

Of course, your social proof for any potential new boss is your LinkedIn profile, so log in and update the ‘About’ and ‘Experience’ section to include recent examples of your work history. 

Landing an interview. 

It’s not always easy to feel full of beans when arriving at a job interview, so you may need to practise putting your best foot forward in an interview. This is particularly helpful if you think you might feel a tad rattled on the day. 

Bear in mind that the new boss wants to see if you’re a good fit for the interview, so arrive armed with a few questions of your own. Research the company to help formulate your questions about the role and leave queries about salary until you’ve been shortlisted. 

If you’re offered a glass of water, it’s worth saying yes. Those few moments can give you a chance to calm your nerves. 

And if you’re being interviewed online, make sure you check that your microphone is working. Also, clear your workspace and remove distractions from the room for the interview, such as your phone and pets. 

New job feels. 

Remember, you don’t have to accept the first job offer that comes along. SEEK recommends reviewing the offer carefully to make sure it’s a good fit for you. 

Consider if the job will help you achieve your career goals, and whether the salary and benefits work for you. Make sure you take at least 24 hours to think on it before accepting, and politely decline the offer if you decide it’s not the right fit for you. 

Negotiating the contract. 

Negotiating a contract can be intimidating. However, if you like the job you’ve been offered and want to accept it, you can go back on parts of the contract you’re not completely happy with.

Do your research online to find out what similar roles are worth, and check if there’s a bonus structure in place. Look for detail about the performance review process, workplace flexibility and whether or not superannuation payments are above the minimum required by law (which currently sits at 11 per cent).   

Kristine says that the salary range has risen dramatically for some skill sets such as software developers, so check websites like SEEK and Glassdoor to know what you’re worth on the current jobs market. 

‘Having relevant data directly comparable to the job you’re going for will mean a better outcome for your negotiations,’ Kristine explains. 

Managing your salary. 

A new job is a great time to get smarter about your savings, especially if your salary increases in your new role. 

Put that extra money to good use, by starting some new budget-savvy habits, like opening multiple accounts to bucket your income into categories, or starting an emergency savings fund. 

With the ME Go app, you can open multiple savings accounts to help you towards your individual goals. The ME Go app also has a built-in Bill Tracker to give you a heads up when bills are coming so you can budget for those too.

Good luck on your job search!

New job, new you, new ME.

Looking to take a financial leap too? Open an account with the ME Go app and watch your savings stack up with ME.

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