Over the past number of months in Australia, many people have been made redundant due to the dropping off in commodity prices and with organisations trying to tighten their budgets and resource allocations. This trend will probably continue for some time so it is vital to prepare yourself and get educated on how to best manage these situations in terms of your job safety.
For those of you who have become a victim to the weakening resources market or feel you may be let go from your roles in the close future – NOW is this time to start preparing and planning your next steps. Here are the main areas I would address to ensure you can quickly move into a new role in the market.
1 – Know what positions to apply for. For example, if you are a carpenter with experience only in the mining sector, do not spend all your time trying to break into the oil & gas industry. Reason being that due to the candidate rich marketplace, recruiters and HR people will have a large pool of people to choose from already and could easily dismiss your application. Know your skills and strengths and use these to secure your next role.
2 – Get your documents in order. Invest time in your resume as this needs to stand out to get to interview stage ahead of others. Ensure all your Tickets and Licences are up to date and have copies ready to send HR/Recruitment personnel upon request.
3 – Be proactive in your job search. Do not only just use Seek for applications. Ask around your friends and other people in your network about potential opportunities. Utilise LinkedIn and contact recruitment and contracting companies.
4 – Track your applications and follow up on them. Follow up on applications with a contact person (if you have one). This shows your determination and could easily lead to an interview.
5 – Stay positive and focused. Negativity breeds negativity so it is key to persist even after numerous rejections. It only takes 1 application and 1 interview to land a new job!
If you are still employed but are not confident with the security in the role, you too should start working on the above 5 points, as this will dramatically assist you in your job search and give you the leading edge over other candidates.
Thanks you for taking the time to read this and should you have any questions or need any further information, feel free to contact me anytime.
Good luck!
