Recent research has shed new light on the critical importance of providing mentally healthy workplaces for business professionals in 2019.

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that mental and behavioural health conditions were the most prevalent chronic illnesses recorded throughout Australia in 2018, leaving more than four million Australians suffering from anxiety and depression.

With workplace mental illness costing the economy over $60 billion per year, it’s time that Australian businesses start to focus on investing additional resources on the development of effective mental health workplace strategies.

Founder of Breathing Space Counselling Practice, Gabriel Edwards, says

CEOs and executives have the greatest influence and impact on the state of an organisation’s mental health and wellbeing, and are rightly required to drive the many mental health initiatives being rolled out across a growing number of organisations.”

In many organisations, however, ongoing stress, late nights and a lack of adequate support can contribute to poor mental health outcomes for senior staff and leaders. Research shows that CEOs and Executives are loathe to utilise standard company EAP services when (not if) they need support. They don’t trust the confidentiality of a company-wide counselling service – an irrational but understandable fear – and they lack confidence in the ability of some call centre counsellors to understand the unique context that Business Leaders live and work within – a reasonable assumption. However, Ms Edwards says:

The top team must live and breathe a commitment to the principles that support and enable positive mental health … they’re the role models for all values and behaviours throughout an organisation.” 

The Australian Government and Productivity Commission have confirmed the importance of exploring the role of mental health in the Australian economy over the next four years as well as the most effective ways to support and improve national mental wellbeing.

I welcome the recent wave of awareness and support for mentally healthy workplaces. The discussions, the programs, and funding being applied to creating mentally healthy workplaces is encouraging, especially given Australia’s concerning suicide rates. But I worry about the gap in support and resources for our top-tier leaders” says Ms Edwards.

Having provided support and treatment to senior leaders and CEOs across Australia, Gabriel Edwards is well-versed at creating healthy work environments, starting with the CEO and Executive team:

As a counsellor specialising in working with high performing professionals in the business arena, I provide a safe confidential space for leaders to drop the game face. To stop, check in, and reflect on the state of their health, their relationships, and their peace of mind.”

Breathing Space offers an exclusive counselling service and a range of resources to Boards,
CEOs and their teams:

• One on one confidential counselling for issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, anger and career transition, as well as coping with the pressures of work when faced with a life crisis such as divorce, death of a family member, illness etc
• 24 hour on-call crisis counselling
• Crisis debrief for individuals and Leadership Teams
• Coaching leaders to manage crisis situations with employees
• Regular tactical debriefing for leaders managing complex high profile issues/crises
• Developing robust leadership team mental health: developing values, creating positive relationships, conflict resolution etc.
• Bespoke learning experiences and resources to address issues and topics specific to the team and/or the organisation
• Creating mentally healthy workplace strategies – starting with the leadership team
• Tracking and Reporting team and organisation issues and trends.

Into the Wild

In September every year, Gabriel runs a Leadership Mental Health retreat called ‘Into the Wild’
specifically designed for Leaders. Into the Wild embraces and explores the following core belief
within a natural wilderness setting:

You are more than the job you do each day…more than the next deadline, project or
problem. When we embrace this truth, we become better professionals!”

Further Information

For a confidential counselling session, contact Gabriel Edwards, Founder and Principal Counsellor at Breathing Space:

• Phone: +61 4085 56264
• Email: space@gabrieledwards.com.au

Gabriel Edwards possesses strong counselling skills and 25 years senior leadership and Board experience across the private, public and NFP sectors.

You’ve landed that elusive role at a large commercial law firm. Few are fortunate enough to get the chance to commence their careers like this. You probably hustled your way through law school, with many sleepless nights and coffee-fuelled study sessions, dreaming of the day when you’d finally get that coveted piece of paper. And you got there. Congrats! Unfortunately, though, the hard work isn’t over. The next question is: how can you get on a proper progression track and maximise your chances for career advancement? What small things can you do to make the job work for you? And more importantly, what things should you avoid doing?

Many graduate lawyers enter the profession with huge expectations about the doors that will open to them. They can’t wait to experience the interesting, challenging and varied work that’s ahead of them. They’re excited to start building professional relationships with clients and colleagues. And yes, these times are exciting, but it doesn’t take long for reality to set in. There is no doubt that doing a stint in a commercial law firm will add value to your career – but the value is what you make it. The key to getting the most out of your experience is to be proactive, enthusiastic and curious.

Often, the day-to-day work doesn’t turn out to be as interesting as you expected. You thought you’d have ample opportunities to collaborate with your peers when in reality you’re just competing for work. For many young lawyers, this is not sustainable. Only the lawyers who are able to accept this reality and work proactively are successful in the long-term.

Why is this? Well, the top performers tend to come into the job with an attitude of enthusiasm and gratitude that their more entitled colleagues may not possess. This attitude impacts hugely on your progression and enjoyment of the job. You’ll establish better networks within the firm and build respect from partners and colleagues. These relationships are crucial to progressing your career.

It might be hard at first, but finding a way to check your ego at the door is the smoothest path to the success you’re looking for. For those who are committed to practice, with the goal of becoming a partner one day, here are 5 areas where the best associates shine.

They Have Realistic Expectations

It’s hard not to believe the hype about yourself, right? You were one of the best and brightest law students and a true high achiever. You outshone the competition and landed the top graduate role. You deserve to be where you are and you deserve all the great things you have coming to you.

For young lawyers, this is an easy trap to fall into. It is also something that can really hold you back from advancing in a large law firm. Stepping on toes might work in the short-term but, in the long-term, it’s a recipe for failure. The most respected junior lawyers are realistic in their assessment of themselves and of the day-to-day work they will undertake.

They know they have little real world experience. They know that this means they need to put their heads down, learn as much as possible and produce the best work they can before they earn the respect of more senior colleagues. They also understand that they are a part of the business and have to operate within the reality of this structure.

You don’t practice law in a vacuum, so taking a commercial approach to your work and outlook is a huge leg up.

They Are Patient

It can be easy to get ahead of yourself. You can be forgiven for expecting the very best work to be directed your way from day one. Firms are notorious for creating the misplaced expectation that you’ll be handed interesting work on a silver platter.

This usually isn’t the case, as workflows and allocation are complex issues. Remember, you have zero experience. You need to start at the bottom. You need to learn before you can step up. Building knowledge, experience and credibility is a slow process.

The best young lawyers recognise that it is all a process and that patience is key. Don’t let impatience prevent you from learning all the incremental skills that form the foundation of something much bigger. Importantly, start building your personal brand while you’re young, and it will reap dividends as you climb the ranks.

They Are Enthusiastic

Time and time again, senior lawyers and partners tell us about the importance of enthusiasm from juniors. Being genuinely enthusiastic about learning and doing the work is the surest way to ensure your success. Yes, even when you’re doing dull day-to-day stuff.

Being enthusiastic means that you bring a totally different level of energy to work. This is something that partners and senior associates pick up on easily. Turning your nose up at work you think is below you, or huffing and puffing about having to do menial tasks will get you nowhere.  By doing this, you appear closed minded or unwilling to do what is required to succeed within the firm. This impacts the work that will be delegated to you.

Your learning and development is a long process. Try to be enthusiastic about whatever tasks are handed to you and learn as much as you can. This will make you stand out in the eyes of those in charge of your progression.

They Are Proactive

Young lawyers often have a misplaced expectation that their firm will deliver internal and external opportunities. Law firms are businesses and partners are very busy people, so they might not be in a position to make these things happen for you.

The most successful lawyers are proactive. They make the most of any opportunity that could separate them from the herd. They explore and learn about how the firm operates. They actively seek avenues for mentorship and discover ways to contribute in non-billable areas. They seek out these opportunities themselves and look to take advantage of them.

It takes effort and enthusiasm to achieve this. But, if you want to separate yourself from your colleagues, you need to seek out mentorship, business development opportunities, client facing time, seminars, and other ways to make yourself indispensable to the firm.

Actively position yourself as a doer – someone who can be trusted to get the job done. This gives you the opportunity to flex your autonomy and independent thinking muscles. By proactively taking part in activities that you enjoy you are already one step closer to making your career work for you, and not the other way around.

They Are Honest

For some, having the courage to speak up is the hardest part. It can be terrifying to put your hand up and ask for help, or suggest a different approach, but will anything change by remaining silent?

If those you work with don’t know that you are unhappy, for example, there is very little they can do to address potential issues or make the necessary changes to help you. So, be honest and seek out guidance from those in more senior positions. An open and honest approach to work issues can open doors and gain you the respect of your colleagues. Chances are, they may be thinking the same thing but lack the confidence to speak up.

Bear in mind that senior staff and partners in firms are time poor, so be selective about when you make an approach and how you raise the issue.

Conclusion

Given how competitive the legal profession can be, some of the above points may seem counterintuitive. But, in our experience, it is an approach that lends itself to long-term success in private practice.

While you have worked hard and achieved a great deal to get where you are in your career today, an element of luck also comes into landing an elite graduate role. Don’t lose sight of this fact – it will direct your actions in practice in a far more positive way: a little gratitude goes a long way.

What other personal qualities do you think are critical in building a successful legal career? Let us know in the comments! 

There are few degrees that equip you for life like a law degree.

At its core, legal work focuses on untangling the inevitable complexities of life that often arise through everyday human interactions.

But legal training doesn’t commit you to a narrow career pathway – just because you study law does not mean that you are fated to be a lawyer. It’s a degree that opens up limitless career options and that prepares you to negotiate the challenges of life like a champion. Effective communication, strong problem-solving skills, thriving in pressure-cooker scenarios and the ability to engage in automatic risk assessments in any situation are just a handful of the enviable life skills you acquire with a law degree.

Well-placed cynicism

Law teaches you to look beyond the surface.

Lawyers can effortlessly identify the motivation behind actions of world leaders, factual deficiencies in news stories as well as the broader social impact in hidden political agendas.

Using methodical logic and reasoning, a law degree helps you think for yourself and dig deeper to uncover real issues. With sharpened analytical thinking, you become no longer happy to accept the status quo or satisfied in taking information fed to you by media, family, friends or colleagues at face value. 

Healthy narcissism

The more legal training you possess, the more you come to relish the sound of your own voice.  

You may even impress yourself with arguments you dream up on the run.

Since legal work often requires you to think on your feet, make inferences from complex facts and make snap decisions about a person’s character, you draw great comfort and satisfaction from knowing your own mind and trusting your judgement.

Effortless ability to express yourself 

A law degree teaches you how to have an opinion about everything.

Nobody argues with a lawyer. Not just because legal opinions are generally informed but also because lawyers know how to express ideas or facts using the correct terminology.

Having an informed opinion on any subject is also an exercise in personal empowerment. An understanding of your everyday rights means that you become unwilling to compromise your best interests under any circumstances. A boss who implements an unfair uniform policy or who turns a blind eye to sexual harassment, for example, can expect a strongly-worded letter from you to the Fair Work Ombudsman, or worse, a civil suit.

Problem solving

There is no problem that is unsolvable with a legal brain.

No matter the circumstances, life is about always having a solid exit strategy. Studying law expands your arsenal of life skills by giving you the ability to adapt to shifting landscapes, to work with available information, and to make watertight backup plans.

Experience an issue with your landlord? Take it to your state or territory rental board. Received an unfair parking fine because the sign was obscured? Appeal it to your local council. In any sticky situation, you can “MacGyver” your way to a solution with your mind. 

Futurist 

A law degree is essential if you want to minimise the risk of a legal snafu.

Lawyers have a nose for situations with the potential to escalate out of control.  

Humans are awkward, scared and fallible creatures that are prone to acting on impulse or raw emotion and making split-second errors in judgement. Legal training shines a high-intensity spotlight on those frailties, helping you to learn from others’ mistakes when negotiating your own life.

Mental fortitude under pressure

A law degree gives you a thick skin.

Although recent studies show that lawyer jokes have a comparable effect on the body to physical pain, for the most part, casual insults, pointed comments, eye rolls or derogatory comments from friends about “how lawyers are the worst” actually galvanise your emotional armour (and guess how fast those friends change their tune when they find themselves in legal strife?).

The ability to remain calm, focused, objective and controlled is a unique type of emotional intelligence that only comes from years of legal training. It’s a skill that is essential in navigating high-conflict personal or professional situations with ease.

Reading & understanding complex documents is a breeze

Applying for a British passport? Seeking a work visa in Canada? Want to know how Twitter’s new Privacy policy will affect you?

Allow me to dramatically skip to the important parts

Legal training creates an elaborate, almost labyrinthine, neural network that craves any opportunity to skim, analyse, digest and understand the content of a document under pressure.

Say goodbye to the days of being taken advantage of by organisations which slide unfavourable terms into the fine print of contracts.

More dateable than doctors

The law may not always be sexy but, according to a recent study by dating app, Happn, lawyers have managed to work their way onto most people’s “would date” list.

Because using Latin phrases to look smart is our modus operandi

In a study of 2.9 million users, being a lawyer was ranked as the most attractive profession among both sexes, even above doctors and engineers.

Career options

Employers look favourably on applicants who have a legal background.

If working overseas is on your bucket list, a law degree can open doors. Australian Volunteers International (AVI) and other government volunteer agencies are always looking to recruit qualified Australians to work in developing countries in a legitimate skill-sharing capacity. It might even be your dream role at an international human rights organisation.

Conclusion

Whatever the reason for studying law – whether for personal or professional development goals – the skills you acquire over the course of your degree are guaranteed to stand you in good stead for the rest of your life.

Using an entrepreneurial approach for career stress management 

Don’t expect too much from yourself too soon in your career.

The seemingly ‘instant’ success stories Elon Musk, and many other young entrepreneurs such as Jodie Fox, co-founder of Shoes of Prey and Jane Lu, founder of ShowPo, feed into an ever-accelerating cycle of millennial career propaganda. This is founded on the notion that if you have not ‘made it’ within the first few years of your career, or your business life, then you are doing something wrong. The reality is that it takes many years of hard work, persistence and determination to establish a solid career.

One effective approach is to ignore everything you think you should be doing and instead adopt an entrepreneurial mindset towards your career and life.

The ‘domino strategy’, described by Ramit Sethi, is an approach used by many successful entrepreneurs around the world. It involves setting one small career goal and knocking it over first. The beauty of this approach is that it removes the immediate psychological pressure you may feel to be an ‘overnight success’ by accounting for timelines that fall outside your direct control.

So, for example:

1. Your first step may be to update your resume
2. Your second step may be to send your resume to your ideal prospective employers

It could be a simple matter of sending an email to inquire about current or future vacancies. This helps you determine whether your idea for your career has potential. From here you can decide whether your skills and experience match the needs of the organisations or firms you wish to work for.

3. If your skills do not match, you can adjust your strategy and put your next steps into motion. For example, by obtaining an extra qualification or gaining more experience in a related field.

“Put the dominoes in just the right sequence so that each small step makes the next, bigger step possible” – Ramit Sethi

If you try to knock over the final domino before you have tackled the necessary preceding career steps, for example, the domino won’t fall. This means that you won’t be offered the job, and you will fail to achieve your ambitions this year.

A ‘domino sequence’ that works for one individual will not work for another – the challenge is to work out which sequence is right for your career.

Look at the career path of people you admire and replicate it

Well-rounded people have well-rounded careers.

One way to map out your perfect ‘domino sequence’ is to study the career pathways of people whom you admire and wish to emulate. A quick LinkedIn search can reveal the educational and professional histories of key industry players and give you a basic idea about what steps you should be taking. Ask yourself:

• Where did they study?
• What did they study?
• Where have they worked?
• Which job was the critical nexus that naturally flowed into their current role?

You can even go one step further by reaching out to these professionals.

Connecting with like-minded, experienced and accomplished individuals in your industry – whether for professional collegiality or mentorship – can help you to maintain healthy long-term wellness strategies and to cultivate strong industry support networks.

Expanding your professional network can not only provide balance and perspective to your work life but also drastically advance your career prospects. Justice Neil Gorsuch, one of the youngest U.S Supreme Court Justices appointed in recent history has credited his rapid career progression to the mentoring and support he received from other high-achieving judicial officers.

Relax and go with the job flow

Your first job out of university will not be your last.

A recent report by the Foundation for Young Australians found that the skills you develop through one role can be transferred to an average of thirteen other positions.

If your current job is still a few steps away from your dream job, then consider a side hustle. This could take the form of a passion project like design work, freelance writing, building websites, teaching fitness classes over the weekend or even chasing your professional interests through a part-time Masters degree. For current and future employers, this highlights your ambition, drive and creative talent.

It is highly likely that your first few jobs out of university will not be a perfect fit, but the flexibility and skills you acquire early in your working life gives you more career mobility.

These initial ‘dominoes’ help you get closer to where you really want to be in your professional life.

Develop your professional skills

Most employers seek applicants who have flexible skills that can be adapted and applied in many different forms. If you want to avoid the wilderness of unemployment or accelerate your career progression in a specific field, a postgraduate qualification can give you an edge over top candidates for competitive positions.

A practice perhaps pioneered by Susan Kiefel, the recently appointed first female Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia who completed her law degree part-time while working as a legal secretary in the 1970s, it is increasingly common for graduates to balance part-time postgraduate study with busy lifestyles.

In a recent study on education and work by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it was found that:

In May 2016, approximately 1 in 5 Australians (20%) aged 15-64 were enrolled in formal study [and] … People with higher levels of educational attainment were more likely to be employed, with 80% of persons with a Bachelor degree or above, 75% of persons with an Advanced diploma or Diploma, and 76% of persons with a Certificate III.” 

In an increasingly specialist legal marketplace, employers recognise the value of postgraduate study with Masters qualifications frequently listed as ‘highly desirable.’

Making the decision to study

If you are freshly graduated or revising your career goals after a few years of work experience, or are concerned that your existing skill set has not prepared you for the job you want, further study may be one of the key ‘dominoes’ you need to invest in your future.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine whether it is the right career move. Are you pursuing postgraduate study to:

• boost salary and career prospects?
• prepare for senior roles in firms and organisations in the public and private sector?
• enhance specialist skills and knowledge?
• progress an existing career or kick start a career change?
• fulfil yourself?
• be seen by potential employers as more qualified than other candidates?
• develop relationships with leading industry professionals?
• develop your practical skills and your ability to express those skills?

If you answered yes one or more of the above questions, it may be worthwhile exploring which universities offer study options that align with your current lifestyle and goals.

A number of fast and flexible online postgraduate qualifications, such as a Masters of Business Law through Southern Cross University, are specifically designed to integrate with full-time work commitments and require only 15 to 20 hours of study per week.

Conclusion

In his book The One Thing, Gary Keller, (founder of one of the largest real estate franchises in the world) says:

When you see someone who has a lot of knowledge, they learned it over time.
When you see someone who has a lot of skills, they developed them over time.
When you see someone who has done a lot, they accomplished it over time.
When you see someone who has a lot of money, they earned it over time.”

This year, follow the lead of successful entrepreneurs. Rather than setting yourself overly ambitious and unrealistic goals, aim to start small and enjoy the ups and downs of your professional journey. Line up your ‘dominoes’ and build momentum steadily, over time, towards your dream career.

Once you knock over those first few ‘dominoes,’ the rest will effortlessly fall into place.

This post is proudly sponsored by Southern Cross University. For more information on how to jump start your legal career in 2017, click here.

The current market is flooded with graduates with only 68.8% of young Australians able to secure full-time work within four months of completing formal study. Youth unemployment currently stands at 12.9%, three times higher than the national average.

In this climate, being offered an interview is an exciting prospect. But when selection panels are overloaded with hundreds of carbon copy applicants all with similar skills and experience, unconscious bias can sometimes creep into hiring decisions by influencing the judgement of decision-makers. In some instances, this can lead to unfair or discriminatory questions posed to job seekers at interview.

Contrary to what you might think, the power balance at interview does not rest solely with your potential employer. You are not required to answer every question an interview panel asks you simply because you seek the ultimate goal of employment with that company or firm.

Some interview questions – particularly ones that canvass your personal circumstances, age or cultural background – are inappropriate and irrelevant and may even be unlawful under Australian employment and anti-discrimination laws.

Questions your potential employer should not be asking you 

Australian employment law (section 351 of the Fair Work Act 2009) prohibits employers from discriminating against both employees and prospective employees on the basis of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family or carer responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.

It is also against the law for an employer to treat you unfairly or harass you because of your age, disability, homosexuality, marital or domestic status, race, sex or transgender status of any relative, friend or colleague of yours, whether you are an applicant or an employee.

Some States and Territories also have anti-discrimination legislation in place which protects applicants against discrimination based on trade union activity, political opinion and criminal records. Employers must adhere to both Federal and State laws.

Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation prohibits discriminatory behaviour by employers towards current or prospective job applicants based on age, race, disability and sex, which includes sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, marital status, pregnancy or family responsibilities.

Certain jobs may require an employer to inquire at interview about your personal circumstances or opinions, current conduct, or past action or behaviour which can be very intrusive. A government national security position, for example, requires very high levels of security clearance. The majority of jobs in the private or public sectors, however, would not require such knowledge.

Below are some examples of questions that are inappropriate, irrelevant, offensive or unlawful. For most positions, you should never be asked these questions at interview:

1. “Do you have a partner?”
2. “What is your marital status?”
3. “Do you intend to start a family or are you currently pregnant?”
4. “What is your cultural background?”
5. “How old are you?”
6. “Are you religious?”
7. “How many religious holidays do you observe each year?”
8. “Have you ever been arrested?”
9. “Are you heterosexual or homosexual?”
10. “Do you have friends or family who are homosexual?”
11. “Do you have any health conditions?”
12. “Can you provide us with your social media usernames and passwords?”

But what does this mean?

It is unlawful for an employer to ask you these questions since your response may unfairly prejudice their decision to hire you.

Be wary of employers who begin a line of indirect questioning designed to extract this information from you without directly posing the question. This also contravenes anti-discrimination legislation.

Put simply, employers cannot ask you questions about the above issues and use your answers to disadvantage you or negatively inform their decision regarding your employment with their company or firm. They also cannot ask questions designed to obtain information about the above issues.

Employers are limited to asking questions which relate to the “inherent requirements” of the position, such as your skills and experience.

Some common practical scenarios:

• In most circumstances, an employer cannot ask your age. If you are applying for a job in a bar, however, your employer is entitled to ask whether you are over 18 years of age as this goes to the inherent requirements of the role.
• An employer is prohibited from asking “Have have ever been arrested?” but is free to ask “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” For certain roles, this information will be critical in making an assessment regarding your suitability for the position. If you have previously been convicted of money laundering and are applying for an accounting position at a financial services firm, this information is relevant and not considered to be unlawful.
• An employer is prohibited from asking “Are you are married?” because it not only reveals how much time you are willing to dedicate to the job (which may detrimentally impact a decision to hire you) but also indirectly discloses your sexual orientation.

• An employer may not ask “Is English your second language” but they may ask whether you are able to speak any other languages.
• Equally, an employer may not ask “Do you have children?” but they may ask “What hours are you available to work?” or “Do you have any commitments that would prevent you from travelling with work?” In a situation where you apply for a retail position and your employer asks whether you have children and then relies on the information you provide when deciding not to offer you the job, you can make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission for discrimination based on family responsibilities.
• An employer may only ask you about certain health conditions if this will impact your ability to do the job.

What about requests for my social media passwords?

While the practice of requesting social media passwords from job applicants is widespread in the United States, some U.S States have now developed social media privacy laws which prevent employers from requesting this information from current and prospective employees. In Australia, there are currently no protections in place to prevent employers from requesting your social media usernames and passwords at interview.

In March 2012, Australian Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim said:

I’m not aware of this practice occurring in Australia. However, I am very concerned by overseas reports of employers demanding social networking passwords. Requests of this kind are extremely privacy invasive, and I would suggest, very difficult to justify. At this stage, we have not received any complaints about this issue but I would strongly advise employers against making such demands. Social media profiles have privacy controls for a reason and generally, if a person wishes to keep their online interactions private they should be able to do so. Again, I remind people to be thoughtful about what they are posting online and limit the amount of personal information they are sharing.”

Although Australian social media law is underdeveloped, anti-discrimination legislation does offer some useful protections where your refusal to provide a password negatively impacts a hiring manager’s decision to employ you.

Discrimination in practice

Katie* has felt the effects of discrimination directly. In an interview for an internship, her interviewer asked for examples of leadership experience outside of the Jewish organisations she participated in.

He was very frank and spoke about him knowing a Jewish partner at the law firm I used to work at and so claimed to know a lot about ‘how the Jewish community work.’ He also said the point of the interview was for them to try and find people who were ‘the right fit’ for their firm and how their firm was all about finding people who value diversity and global mindsets (basically insinuating that because I was Jewish I didn’t value these things).” Katie said.

Katie answered the question by detailing the parts of her life which were not connected to the Jewish community, to which the interviewer responded, “Wow that’s impressive.”

[It] made me feel sick because it felt like he was happy I wasn’t really in the Jewish community, I then followed up by saying that I was actually really proud of my Jewish background and … didn’t think that it was relevant to me doing a clerkship at the firm” Katie said. 

A few days following the interview Katie called the company’s human resources representative, who was also present at her interview, to explain how uncomfortable the question regarding her cultural background had made her feel. Her comments were met with defensiveness from human resources and the comment “What do you want me to do about it?”

After receiving an offer for a second interview, Katie decided to withdraw her application from the selection process.

What can you do when faced with a discriminatory interview question?

Employers are under an obligation to avoid discriminating against current or prospective employees.

Job interviews are a platform to impress and to show off your skills and experience so declining to answer a question can seem very difficult and overwhelming, particularly if you believe it will jeopardise your employment prospects. It is critical to remember, however, that you are entitled to do so.

Importantly, if your refusal to answer a discriminatory question influences an employer’s decision not to employ you, this is also considered to be discriminatory behaviour by an employer.

When faced with inappropriate questions, you may wish to politely decline to answer by saying:

I am not comfortable with that question and would prefer not to answer it.”

You may also wish to go on the front foot by saying:

How is this question relevant?” 

This response will force a hiring manager to either justify the reason for their question or realise the error and quickly move on to the next question.

If you believe that you have not been offered a position due to an answer you did provide at an interview, which was discriminatory in nature, you have several options such as:

• First speaking calmly with the person or organisation that treated you unfairly. Explain why you believe that you have been treated unfairly and that you believe this is unlawful. The company or firm may have a grievance process that you can follow.

• Making a complaint to the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW

• Making a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission – they will help you to resolve the issue. The complaint must be referred to the President, who must inquire and conciliate the complaint. If the President decides that the conduct was not unlawful discrimination, you have the option of pursuing your complaint through the Federal Court of Australia. The court can order that you are employed or awarded damages.

• Making a complaint to the Fair Work Ombudsman, who may commence litigation against an employer under the Fair Work Act 2009. Employers can face fines of up to $10,800 for discriminatory behaviour towards prospective employees.

• Seeking legal advice and commencing a civil action under State or Territory legislation.

Generally, you have 12-months from the time you experienced the discriminatory behaviour in which to make a complaint. Despite the above options, however, it is rare for such cases to go to court due to a lack of evidence. Discrimination is often “invisible” as many employers do not provide a reason for failing to employ a specific candidate who may be the subject of discriminatory behaviour.

While it pays to know your personal rights, proactively protecting these rights when seeking employment in the current market can often seem unrealistic. Most of us need that job, and therefore believe that the costs of objecting to discriminatory behaviour by a potential employer are outweighed by the need to secure a regular income.

Making a complaint may seem like an extreme response, but many companies will continue to engage in discriminatory practices until candidates take a stand.

*Names have been changed as source wishes to remain anonymous.

Further Information

Resources for employees:

If you, or someone you know, has experienced discrimination at interview contact:

• Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94; or visit
• Fair Work Australia website
• Australian Human Rights Commission (online complaint form)

To make a complaint in your State or Territory visit:

• Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW: Process for making a complaint and tips for writing a complaint letter
• ACT Human Rights Commission
• Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission
• Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland
• Equal Opportunity Commission of South Australia
• Equal Opportunity Tasmania
• Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
• Victoria Legal Aid Guide to making a discrimination complaint
• Western Australia Equal Opportunity Commission

For more information on discrimination visit:

• Quick guide to anti-discrimination laws
• ACT Human Rights Commission Education and Publications
• Fair Work Australia Protection from Discrimination at Work factsheet

Resources for employers:

• Australian Human Rights Commission Guide to Preventing Discrimination in Recruitment
• Diversity and discrimination online course (free) – learn how to promote diversity, prevent discrimination and handle complaints.
• Guide to managing employees on religious holidays
• Managing underperformance best practice guide – information about how to take reasonable management action to make sure employees are doing their job properly. Disciplinary action carried out by a manager in a reasonable, lawful way is not discrimination.
• Workshop: Practical guide to pay equity
• Workplace discrimination fact sheet
• Gender pay equity best practice guide
• Protections at work
• Bullying and harassment

Have you, or anyone you know, ever been faced with discriminatory interview questions? How did you handle it? Let us know in the comments! 

From everyday predicaments like whether you should go to the gym or go out for dinner with your friends; forego precious sleep and watch just one more episode of Mindhunter; to bigger life decisions like whether you are on track with your career or if it might be time to change course this year.

We are bombarded from all angles with social media noise about how to fix our biggest career problems ‘in 10 simple steps’ – and with so much conflicting information about how to be successful, it’s not surprising that many of us have come to doubt our natural instincts and decision-making strategies. Instead of pausing to listen to our inner voice we label it as an untrustworthy saboteur and quickly tune it out. How many times have you chided yourself for not making a decision you ‘knew’ at the time you should, but didn’t?

What value can your gut really offer in developing better decision-making skills and how can you use it to improve your career prospects this year?

How do we make everyday decisions?

When it comes to decision-making, our brains use two main systems:

1. Deliberative (conscious): researching, analysing, weighing benefits and deciding on the most logical approach based on facts.
2. Intuitive (subconscious): trusting your gut, following a ‘hunch’ or choosing an option that just ‘feels right’ based on past knowledge and experience.

In his book Thinking Fast And Slow, Daniel Kahneman refers to these two different but complementary systems as ‘slow thinking’ and ‘fast thinking’.

In our examples above, difficult decisions that take time and conscious thought, such as applying for a new job or making an important career move, generally fall under the cognitive end of the decision-making spectrum. Emotional decisions to do with relationships, on the other hand, correspond to the intuitive side of the decision-making spectrum.

For many years researchers believed that the conscious, pragmatic and objective mind was best able to make logical decisions; however, most experts now agree that a combination of analytical and intuitive decision-making yields the best results.

According to research published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes by researchers from Boston College, George Mason University and Rice University:

Intuition has long been viewed as a less effective approach to critical reasoning when compared to the merits of analytical thinking. Yet as society and businesses place a greater emphasis on the speed and effectiveness of decision-making, the intuitive approach has been identified as an increasingly important tool.”

How lawyers make decisions

Traditionally, lawyers are trained to ‘think slow’ and make decisions based on hard evidence and facts. It’s a form of industry-championed analytical thinking that begins in law school and carries through to legal practice with the primary goal of mitigating unnecessary risks. So when it comes to making career decisions it should come as no surprise that most law graduates and young lawyers fall into the trap of using a similar formulaic approach, based on measurable facts and metrics.

For example:

If I thoroughly research a potential employer, have excellent grades, gain as much relevant experience as possible before applying, nail the interview, have all my social profiles up-to-date and project a professional image, then I will be in the best position to secure an offer.”

Unfortunately, real-world recruitment practices almost never adhere to a clear and predictable formula. Having perfect grades and relevant experience is no longer enough. This is because the hiring process is largely intuitive. While your qualifications and experience are objective markers of your suitability for an interview your personality and likeability are an equally important (but often overlooked) subjective factor that plays an important role in your overall employability.

A hiring manager may be excited by your application on paper, for example, but choose not to hire you at the interview because of a ‘gut feeling’ that you will not fit their company culture. This could be because you did not show a demonstrated passion or interest in the type of work they offer.

In this situation, you might need an extra edge to push yourself over the employment line – one that blends a deliberative and intuitive decision-making approach to your legal career.

Getting the edge: Conscious analytical thinking and raw gut instinct

Employers favourably regard applicants who demonstrate high emotional intelligence, well-developed self-awareness and the capacity to make sound decisions. Spending time developing your interpersonal skills, learning how to communicate effectively, and honing your ability to formulate an opinion on raw data and your intuition is one way to achieve this.

Employers also want staff who are actively engaged in both self-development and professional development. If you apply for a role with a corporate firm, for example, a simple way to position yourself ahead of your competitors is to make a calculated career move by pursuing an online Master of Laws (Business Law) .

Expanding your career arsenal through further study shows a potential employer that you have a thirst for knowledge, are committed to developing your professional skillset, are actively engaged with the latest trends in your industry, are eager to refresh your existing skills and to build a solid career with their company.

These are qualities that all employers seek in a new hire. This is especially so as they are making an investment in you and will see your potential long-term value to their company.

Developing intuitive thinking in your career

In an interview with Fast Company, Angela Jia Kim, co-founder of women entrepreneurs’ network Savor The Success, outlines some questions to ask yourself to understand your gut feelings:

• “Do I feel good around this person or choice?”
• “Does this person or situation give me or take my energy?”
• “Do I feel empowered or disempowered?”
• “Am I going toward an adventure or running from fear?”
• “Am I listening to my lessons learned from the past?”
• “Would I make the same choice if I had a million dollars in my pocket now?”
• “Do I feel respected and valued?”
• “Am I trying to control the situation or am I leaving room for expansion?”

Intuitive thinking can boost your career by helping you to:

1. Make faster and more accurate decisions

Your ability to follow a hunch and quickly assess a work situation develops with time. In many cases, sound professional decision-making skills are tied to your level of knowledge or experience in a given area. This is referred to as domain expertise, meaning that the higher your level of knowledge in a subject area, for example, where you have climbed the ranks in your industry the more effectively you will be able to make intuitive decisions.

Invest time in further study related to your speciality, read online journals and industry news, listen to podcasts and inform yourself about new developments that impact your current or future roles. A strong baseline understanding of such issues flows on to helping you make faster and more informed choices, which are attractive qualities in any employee.

2. Be in a position of power at interview

If you are offered an exciting job, it does not always mean that you should take it. Our gut is often our best tool to navigate personal and professional relationships. Consider a situation where something seems ‘off’ about your selection panel at interview. Maybe the company values do not align with your own, or perhaps you have an off-putting sense that you may be discriminated against because of your gender or cultural background. You may dislike your new employer or feel that taking the job is not the most strategic career move.

Trust your instincts – if something makes you feel uneasy about a job you are under no obligation to accept it. Remember that simply because a job is highly competitive does not mean that you should blindly take it, especially when everything in you screams that it is the wrong decision.

3. Know the right time to make a big career move

If you are in an unsatisfactory work situation, and things are not improving, your gut is often the first indicator. Pay attention to warning signs such as a constant heavy or nagging sensation, experiencing discomfort or anxiety, feeling ill-at-ease throughout the day, sensing a continuous sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

In this situation, going with your gut involves coming to terms with the fact that your work situation is unlikely to improve and using your analytical brain to decide on a change.

Bear in mind that listening to your gut takes time and practice, so be kind to yourself and don’t expect immediate results. Your intuition is not a voice that comes over a loudspeaker, but something much more subtle. It’s an inkling that reveals itself only when you quiet your mind. It makes you want to go in one direction over another for reasons that you may not be able to fully articulate.

Conclusion

While legal reasoning and analytical thinking focus on breaking down complex problems into small digestible parts, intuition is about looking at the bigger picture. Making career decisions based on intuitive reasoning looks to patterns and your long-term career goals.

Your career is more than the sum of its parts, which is why it is important to consider and trust your instincts. Every day your intuition makes millions of rapid assessments that tell you whether something is right or wrong – it will let you know which direction your career should be taking you.

Relying on your inner voice is a skill you can learn. It’s a habit you can cultivate in your personal and professional life. Cultivating your gut instinct can not only help you get, and keep, a job in today’s competitive market but also help you make healthier and more confident decisions about your life.

This post is proudly sponsored by Southern Cross University. For more information on jump starting your legal career in 2017, click here.

Gone are the days of a job for life, and thank God, how boring. Today we must all be ready to adapt and embrace change. The only certainty in our professional and personal life is that things will change whether we are ready or not. So instead of fighting it, make it happen the way you want. Consider the benefits of slash careers, write your own story and don’t be limited by the scepticism and fears of those around you. And remember, even when you feel lost and uncertain and second-guess yourself, don’t worry, it’s normal, we’ve all been there. Just hold strong and have faith in yourself and if all of that is too hard, then just pretend until your ego catches up to your success!

I wanted to be a famous actress

For me, the attributes of embracing change, remaining adaptable and having a love and understanding of language have all been integral to my career. These attributes were incubated in the performing arts. Yes, I wanted to be a famous actress. I know, not the most common starting point for a lawyer.

Or … maybe a lawyer

After studying performing arts at UWS Theatre Nepean and taking up acting, I then found myself
teaching … something I had never planned on doing. Then, with the intervention of a good friend, I decided to take the leap and study law.

I remember being terrified because I really didn’t think I had the brainpower. I was always the fun, bubbly, arty one … not the serious lawyer. Thankfully, my brain cells managed to multiply and I ended up practising law for about nine years before moving from the legal arm at one of the big four banks to the frontline as a bank manager.

Now I am thankful for the skills I’ve picked up along the way because they enhance my client-centric focus in my current role at Nexus.

Opportunity doesn’t knock, it whispers!

To me, life is like reading a book. You don’t turn to the last page to find out how it pans out. You want to see how it develops.

If someone pointed me out to you in the theatre while portraying Hermia in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and said, “Wow… she’d make a great general manager for a bank in 20 years’ time”, you’d laugh. For me, this is the most exciting thing about my career to date. I never saw any of it coming.

As my father once said to me, “opportunity doesn’t knock, it whispers, and you have to be listening.”

My journey into the law was amazing and a turning point for how I saw myself and my potential. Can you believe it? I was awarded first-class honours! And while I loved law and its practice, I didn’t like the way the traditional firms operated so, embracing change yet again, I moved to Hobart and began a PhD in bioprospecting.

Eventually, I came back to Sydney and worked in a couple of law firms including Truman Hoyle, which embraced my non-traditional lawyer personality. The more I practised law the more I became interested in what my clients did. I used to call it the “so-what” factor.

The law books say you can’t do it, but so what?

Really … a banker?

I contemplated work in business and ended up as legal counsel at Westpac. My inquisitive nature is never quelled and I started looking on the bank’s intranet to better understand its business. I thought the frontline sales team could do with some co-ordinated support, so I put together a proposal for a new job for myself. It coincided perfectly with Gail Kelly’s move to create a customer-centric culture. A series of secondments upskilled me to the extent I was then appointed as the bank manager at Hurstville, one of the top four branches in the country.

It was amazing. I loved it. Again I could feel my brain cells multiplying. It was a completely different skill set. Everything I had learnt as a lawyer actually hindered me. I had to learn to retrain a lot of things, even just simple communication.

I realised that legal language is terrible. After my experience as a bank manager, I now approach it differently. I can appreciate the mindset you get into as a lawyer, it is challenging, but it doesn’t work for everyday Australians, and that is who we are servicing. Communication fascinates me and I learnt that bankers are very good communicators because they are sellers. Lawyers traditionally aren’t.

And back to law … but no longer a “handbrake!”

Now back working as a lawyer I appreciate just how difficult it is to run a business unit. It’s a completely different skill set and I have huge respect for my clients and the work they do. What we do as lawyers is such a tiny facet of their business. It’s not everything, not the be all and end all. When you’re in a law firm you can trick yourself into thinking it’s a really important thing. It’s not, and for business it’s a headache and they don’t even want to think about the headache. No one wants to know about it.

The challenge is to be seen as part of the solution, not part of the problem.

When I was moving into the business arm of Westpac, the people who gave me a shot were more interested in my performing arts background. That’s what gave me the edge. My legal background was a concern to them. A lawyer in their minds was a handbrake. But a lawyer can be part of the solution.

What people think they need isn’t necessarily what they do need, and that’s where the skill set of the lawyer and the skill set of the banker come in. The theatrical background and love of teaching were integral to my success in the national manager role at Westpac, especially upskilling regional bank managers. Everything is simply a problem to be solved.

Many businesses and legal firms talk the talk when it comes to collaboration and collective wisdom, but few walk the walk. They baulk at bringing in people with different skill sets. That’s not the case at Nexus. It’s all about complete collaboration and striving for success. It’s all client-centric. Law is the only industry that thinks it doesn’t have to concentrate on customer service. My skill set from Westpac is a perfect fit – for me, the client is at the centre of everything.

Good business structure involves flexibility and strength. Those attributes apply to a good lawyer and a good law firm.

So remember … enjoy the journey, own your path and don’t apologise for taking a different route. Often it’s the choices that fill us with the most fear and make the least sense that end up defining our success and happiness.

What do you think about the prospect of sticking with one career for your entire professional life? Is the diversity and constant interest of a slash career something that interests and excites you? Let us know in the comments!

Entering an office environment for the first time is intimidating enough without the additional stress of wondering what you should wear.

Workplace culture is unique to every business or organisation and can change depending on your position. If you work in a client-facing role, for example, expect to be dressed in your best most days of the week.

While it is preferable to avoid fronting up to a meeting in a pressed tuxedo, it is also important to make a great first impression when starting a new job. The way you choose to dress in the office is an expression of who you are and reveals a lot more about you, your personality, and your overall ambition than you may realise.

Consistently presenting well shows that you care about yourself and your personal appearance. Most of us associate this with people who exercise equal degrees of care and diligence towards their work life – meaning that dressing well can play a large role in shaping the bigger picture of a successful career.

So how do you decide what is or is not appropriate for your unique office environment?

Dress For the Job You Have

Imagine turning up to the first day of your apprenticeship in designer jeans and a button-down shirt.

It might look amazing in your bedroom, but is it practical? For a hands-on industry, it is even more crucial that what you wear is not just fun, but functional. This will help with productivity and enable you to work unimpeded.

Cigarette pants. Image: ASOS

In a traditional office setting, you will spend extended periods of time at your desk, so it’s usually best to choose pieces that are light and breathable for summer but can be layered with a cardigan or jacket for winter.

Cigarette pants and a lightweight cotton or silk blouse are comfortable and professional choices for most corporate environments.

If you’re running late for a morning meeting (and need to avoid wasting time deciding on skirt/shirt combinations), opt for a simple black dress and flats – a complete outfit in less than five minutes. You can pull it together while half asleep and comfortably run to catch the next train.

Skirts, a fitted top and classic blazer (or cardigan) and heels also always look clean, pulled together and professional.

A good rule of thumb: If you decide on a loose-fitting skirt, select a form-fitting top; if you wear a tight skirt, go with a loose-fitting and billowy top.

If you own a pair of fabulous but fatal heels (the kind that you can barely hobble 5 steps in), try to avoid wearing them to the office.

If you are feeling unstable on your feet, this will come across as insecurity and unsureness in your role. 

A good compromise if you do wear heels to work regularly is to keep a pair of neutral flats under your desk or in your office drawer. If you need to run into a meeting being held in another building or want to go for a quick walk at lunch, you have something comfortable and professional to slip on.

Look Your Best, Feel Your Best

Do you feel confident? Ready to take on whatever your boss throws at you?

This is the kind of attitude you need to be a high performer in the office. Maintaining the right headspace is the first step towards engaging well with your projects and colleagues.

Try wearing clothes that you associate with a positive experience or know you enjoy wearing to lift your spirits.

It can be tempting to hit the shops at lunch and blow your paycheck on an entirely new outfit each week. The danger with impulse purchases is that it may be something that you only wear once or twice in a season.

Instead, try to integrate key pieces into your wardrobe over time that reflect your changing professional image. Write a list of all the missing items you need in your cupboard and start accumulating them slowly.

For example, you may need a:

• tailored black blazer that you can wear with everything;
• thin belt in neutral colours that will go with every skirt or dress you own;
• classic button-down silk blouse;
• black or grey a-line skirt that will look great with a shirt or top in any colour;
• classic pea coat for winter; or
• string of power pearls.

You can mix and match each of these items with different accessories, like an eye-catching orange handbag, red scarf, bold necklace or statement tights, to achieve infinite outfit combinations.

Invest time and money in building a staple wardrobe from the outset of your career. Once this is out the way, the answer to your ‘what should I wear today?’ question will transform from panic to pleasure.

Always go with your gut instinct. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you are wearing, others are likely to pick up on your discomfort too.

What Are Other People Wearing?

Just landed a new job? Take your cue from what you interviewer wore to get a good grasp of company dress code.

If you managed to get the position without a face-to-face meeting (for example, through a Skype interview), research the company’s social media pages. Instagram or Facebook often promote pictures of staff and the office space. This will give you an idea about whether staff dress casually or more formally.

Another effective strategy is to take advantage of any networking opportunities or welcome drinks that arise before you start your employment.

It is a great chance to see how other professionals in your industry dress and interact with one another.

It is also a fantastic opportunity to mingle with co-workers and get inside knowledge on office culture and what may be appropriate or inappropriate early.

Check Your Contract Beforehand

Your employment contract will usually outline company policy in regard to dress standards.

This will give you extra clarity around your clothing selection. If the business has a company-wide ban on open-toed footwear in the office, for example, it’s better to know well in advance.

Always remember that if you happen to choose an inappropriate outfit on your first day, this isn’t a disaster.

Learn from the experience and wear something different tomorrow. Simple.

Useful Quick Tips: Lightning Round

Stay true to yourself

Dress in a way that reflects your creativity and true personality.

This will help you to cultivate authentic relationships with your colleagues and with management.

Ask for an opinion

Take into account what your friends and family tell you about your style choice but, at the end of the day, if you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing then just go for it!

Capsule wardrobe

Stock up on key classic pieces and neutral coloured clothes that are easy to pair with anything all year-round.

For a contemporary office style, select quirky prints or unique cuts.

Ditch the backpack

It might be a convenient way to carry everything in one place, but it won’t do your career any favours.

Instead, try a leather satchel to your keep your documents and laptop organised.

If you feel uncertain about other aspects of your career life, there are many online short courses available that can help get you up to speed.

What do you wear to work? And how do your clothing choices reflect your personality? Let us know in the comments! 

Staying in the same job for too long can start to feel like Groundhog Day.

You find yourself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over again. You get a coffee, you greet your superiors, you plough through the day and pray for mercy that you can get out the office before 7.00pm to salvage some semblance of a social life (or counterbalance all those hours hunched over your computer by hitting the gym).

You struggle to suppress the silent scream escaping your lips:

1) During deadly team meetings.

2) While trapped making polite conversation with that oddball, close-talking colleague in the lift (the one who’s manic excitement describing a weekend spent indexing his HBO collection or playing World of Warcraft tells you that you are one of the few precious social encounters he will experience all week); or

3) At afternoon teas to farewell a co-worker you didn’t even like.

Worse than developing a hair-trigger response to flee out the building and never look back is when you stop experiencing these thoughts and feelings at all. You accept and even embrace your unfulfilling surroundings.

We like to refer to this career phenomenon as ‘the nothing.’

‘The nothing’ is working in a job where every day you wait to die.

It’s the slow and steady descent into workplace apathy characterised by numbness, lack of real care about your work and just killing time until your next paycheck. You stop feeling driven to draw meaning and purpose from your career. You may even convince yourself that being a responsible adult means accepting this reality.

To avoid being sucked into ‘the nothing’, you need to become an expert at recognising the above signs and proactively taking steps to move into a new role before it takes hold and your authentic self is lost forever.

But with recurring expenses like rent, car, mortgage or credit card repayments, simply getting up and resigning is not always a realistic solution.

What you can do, however, is to start thinking about what your true talents are:

• What did you want to be when you were little?
• What are you really good at?
• What brings you fulfilment?
• What makes you feel like the best version of yourself?
• How can you blend these talents into a career?

Take positive incremental steps by using your spare time to:

• Write for publications that inspire you. You can use your new writing portfolio to help transition into the industry of your choice.
• Volunteer your time for non-profits or other organisations whose mission aligns with your goals and values. The experience and contacts you make may lead to a new career.
• Think about how you ideally want to be spending your days.
• Re-skill and re-start. If you don’t have the skills you need to achieve your goals, go back to uni (even part-time) and learn them.

There are many lawyers, economists, engineers and accountants who have pivoted their careers and gone back to uni to study medicine.

It’s never too late to pursue the life you were meant to lead.

More on BucketOrange Magazine

• How to leave your job: Template resignation letter
• Workplace rights: How to know you’re working for the wrong company
• Career skills: How to write a killer CV
• Career know how: How to put together a winning cover letter

To learn more about writing for BucketOrange Magazine, click here or send us an email with a one page CV, a cover email telling us a bit about yourself and links to online writing samples (if available).

Etiquette is everywhere.

It’s a set of invisible rules that unconsciously, and sometimes consciously, govern our social interactions.

From networking etiquette, to social etiquette, meal time etiquette and professional etiquette. With so many unwritten rules informing our daily social interactions, it can be almost impossible to know what the right thing to do is in any given situation.

When it comes to the freneticism and sheer volume of online interactions, most of us have been lulled into the false belief that email etiquette is not an essential career skill. Our capacity to complete tasks efficiently and achieve a result is often considered more important than how that result was achieved. This means that most emails are assigned little time and consideration before being sent to their unwitting recipient.

But an email reveals more about you than you might think. Often it is the first impression you make on another person. Structure, tone and content are all important elements in conveying your core message. If rushed and poorly constructed, a bad email can quickly elicit a lasting negative response.

Some Hard And Fast Rules For Good Email Etiquette

• Try to keep your sentences and language brief and to the point

Always remember to ask the person you are emailing how they are. It starts your dialogue off on the right foot.

• Wherever possible, always try to reply to emails within 24 hours

• Never sign off an email with a smiley face, a kiss, a wink or an emoji

If you cannot express something adequately with words then leave it out completely.

Don’t do this.

Using smiley faces and a seemingly harmless “X” at the end of a professional email can make you seem overly emotional, overfamiliar, lacking in emotional intelligence and weak. It can also come across as passive aggressive or that you are too lazy to say what you really mean.

• Avoid unnecessary punctuation such as CAPITALISATION, bolding and exclamation points!!!

Nobody enjoys feeling as though they are being yelled at over an email exchange. There are better ways to reinforce an urgent deadline.

• Never ignore an email from somebody more senior than you. This rule also applies to volunteer positions

If someone in a senior position has asked you to take on more work, to find information on a project, to chase down a lead or even what your stance is on a certain issue, always respond as quickly as possible. Even if your response is just a brief acknowledgement email along the lines of:

Try to respond like this.

Not responding at all sends a clear and unambiguous message that you do not care about your senior manager’s needs. It also tells the story that you do not value your role, that you have poor time-management skills and that you are not coping.

Remember, the person who supervises your work determines your salary increment and eligibility for promotion. They are also in a position to give you a glowing (or terrible) referee report one day.

Their opinion matters, so always try to go above and beyond in your interactions.

• Keep your commitments: If you commit to completing a task then stick with it

If you find that your circumstances change and you are no longer able to take on a task you committed to, have the confidence and courtesy to tell the person to whom you made that commitment. Being up front means that everyone knows where they stand.

Communicating your needs early also helps your manager do their job more effectively by being aware of which tasks need to be reassigned.

• Keep emotion out of it: Email communication should be professional and avoid unnecessary emotion

Sometimes the best professional communication technique involves knowing when to speak up and when to zip it.

Signing Off

Social regulations, particularly in a work context, are some of the most difficult to master. Everything depends on your office environment, company culture, past practices as well as who is supervising you.

If you work in an environment where the exchange of casual emails is commonplace, you may find yourself charmed by their informality, and tempted to respond in kind.

When this happens, and you are on the verge of stripping away a layer of professionalism from your digital correspondence, always remember before hitting SEND that you can never get yourself into trouble by being too professional.

Dressing for success is important, but developing a professional and authentic communication style is just as critical in shoring up a rock solid career trajectory.

What techniques do you use in email writing? Let us know in the comments!

I am going to lay it all on the table bluntly – there is nothing that truly prepares you for the stress of law school.

That reality is all too real right now as I sit writing in my onesie, holding my 3^rd cup of tea, and going over my exam revision notes. But like anything in life, it all depends on how you look at the situation. If you are a ‘glass half full’ kind of person, there are numerous positive learning outcomes that can be drawn from being regularly subjected to the often cruel and inhumane punishment of law exams. It’s a test not only of your knowledge, but also of your willpower and resolve.

For law students, it teaches us how to be disciplined, how to problem solve and manage our time effectively, how to cope mentally and physically during prolonged periods of extreme stress as well as how to perform well under pressure. These are life skills that lawyers use throughout their careers. As a final year law student I feel (or perhaps I hope!) that I have adopted some excellent strategies that enable me to cope in times of high stress.

So how can you benefit from law student life hacks, without going through the horror of law school yourself? Keep reading.

Be Collaborative, Not Competitive

It’s just as relevant in life as it is in law school.

Law students must grapple with a competitive drive deeply ingrained from day one. We are led to believe that competitiveness is necessary to get better marks and secure a top job after graduating. However, this is not necessarily true.

More often than not, a fuller understanding of complex legal principles can come from teamwork and collaboration. This is something that takes many law students a long time to fully appreciate.

Working together in study groups not only helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses but also helps you work through twice as much revision as you would if you were working alone. Collaborating with other students is also the fastest way to form strong and lasting friendships based on mutual trust and respect. Incidentally, it also means that you always have someone willing to go to Doughnut Time with you.

Collaboration over competition is a mindset that is easily transferable to any work environment. Teamwork, the capacity to network and develop good working relationships with a range of stakeholders as well as knowing when to ask for the input, advice and support from a more experienced colleague, show that you have high emotional intelligence.

These are some of the most attractive qualities employers look for in a job candidate – and they have nothing to do with your university grades.

Think like a lawyer: It takes a team to build a dream.

Prepare & Practice

If there is one thing law students know how to do, it is prepare.

This could be for a 100% exam, a mooting competition or big tutorial presentation. For most law students, planning ahead, working out a study schedule and breaking the semester’s content into digestible chunks are basic study survival skills.

One of the most difficult skills developed during law school, however, is the ability to apply relevant law to complex factual scenarios. Not unlike preparing for a job interview, this skill requires training, practice and perseverance.

Using the same planning, discipline and practical techniques used by law students can really help you to prepare for interviews and even everyday work meetings.

To succeed at interview, you need to show your employer that you understand what they want in a new recruit and that you are competent at carrying out those duties. This can only be demonstrated through practice and preparation. Know the company website inside out, research panel members who will be interviewing you and set up a mock interview session with someone you trust. Ask them to fire practice questions at you in an adversarial style, just as a law student would prepare for a mock trial.

You can also use the same technique to prepare for meetings. Know the content that you will deliver and prepare with palm cards. You may wish to put together a slideshow and try to anticipate follow up questions from colleagues.

Adopting these skills demonstrates initiative, leadership and conscientiousness which will pave the way for future success.

Think like a lawyer: Never be caught unprepared.

Be Organised & Remember You Are Human

Law students love to develop effective and unique systems to aid study.

When preparing for exams, law students need to wade through hundreds and hundreds of pages of materials. They must not only read, absorb and remember these principles, but also understand how to apply them in real life scenarios. When faced with a seemingly insurmountable stack of papers, the only way to avoid being buried like a hoarder is to suck it up, organise every subject into a dedicated chunk of study time and get into it – no procrastinating!

Law students know better than anyone that to be an effective studier and pass your exams, you have to be highly organised and prepared. This order provides a sense of clarity and control in a time of chaos and intense stress during exam period.

What law students understand is that study must work around life. Not the other way around.  Spending time with friends and family, having the occasional wine (or three) and exercising are critical to happiness and success.

Think like a lawyer: You cannot do your best work in chaos. Get organised, get your work done efficiently, and factor in time for yourself.

Think we’ve missed anything? Let us know in the comments section below!

Establishing a solid career is tough.

The initial stages of everyone’s professional journey are a time filled with panic, confusion and self-doubt.

Maybe you are unable to land that competitive internship or are finding it hard to be offered an entry level position. You may even be struggling to work out what career path you wish to pursue. You could be missing something big that could boost your career prospects.

What if I told you that the missing career link could be volunteering experience?

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your local community as well as other communities around the world. Aside from the fact that volunteering makes you feel good, and allows you to become a part of something bigger than yourself, there are other reasons why volunteering is a great idea.

These range from skills development, to gaining valuable experience in different fields, connecting with other professionals and boosting your career prospects. Below are some of the main benefits.

It Looks Good On Your Resume

You have to admit, it feels great to add a few more lines to your resume.

When you are willing to put a lot of effort into a good cause, even when there is nothing in it for you, it shows your competency and dedication.

Some employers require 2 – 3 years post-graduate experience, making it hard to get a look in on your dream job. Volunteering helps fill that gap on your resume, leading to a better chance of getting an interview.

The added benefit is a glowing letter of recommendation from leaders of the organisations you have volunteered with, as well as a strong list of referees.

It Helps You Network 

Volunteering has become an easy way to make new connections in your area, especially if you have recently moved to a new city or country and are eager to find a way to meet new people.

It is a stress-free networking opportunity that comes without the awkward and uncomfortable conversations you may find yourself engaged in at formal events.

When you have built a strong and positive relationship with the organisations you volunteer with, senior persons within that organisation will not hesitate to help you. They might recommend you for other great opportunities or connect you with important contacts. You may even wish to recommend some of those opportunities to your friends and family.

It Helps You Develop Valuable Skills

You might not know it, but volunteering helps build new skills and enhance existing ones.

As a volunteer, you can allow yourself to listen, learn and experience a range of different tasks and challenges without the stress and pressure of getting something wrong or running the risk of ruining your professional reputation.

Volunteering is an effective way to gain confidence working in a professional setting. Being able to present yourself to a future employer as an impressive and well-rounded candidate with a range of experience will set you apart. Well-developed teamwork and interpersonal skills are also a valuable asset that every employer looks for.

It Helps You Understand Yourself

Volunteering enhances self-awareness.

A better understanding of your personality, your strengths, weaknesses and interests can give you a new and inspired outlook on your career choices.

For instance, if you are the kind of person who excels at analytical thinking and persuasiveness, volunteering may help you decide on a career pathway in the law. If you discover that you have a creative and imaginative mind, on the other hand, you may be guided towards more creative industries such as design.

It Enables You To Explore Career Choices

Volunteering helps you to gather information and determine exactly what you are looking for in a career.

If you have no idea what you want to do with your life, finding out what it’s like to work at a big company or smaller non-profit can be of real benefit.

Regardless of the size, volunteering presents a fantastic opportunity for you to figure it all out. It is a safe environment for you to discover your true ambitions.

It Stops From You Slacking Off

If you have a 2-month university break, a few weeks of work leave or want to get a complete change of scenery for 6-12 months and volunteer overseas, volunteering is a great way to avoid boredom and apathy and keep your brain engaged.

When you resume work or study, you will be on top of things and in a position to hit the ground running!

Conclusion

For those who already volunteer – good on you! You are one step closer to your dream job.

For those who are planning to volunteer – go for it! Volunteering is not only a way to make a positive social impact, but also a way to kick start your personal and career development.

So, get off your couch and go volunteer! You won’t regret it.

Further Information

Below are some great volunteering resources to get you started.

National:

• Volunteering ACT
• Pro Bono Australia
• Go Volunteer
• Volunteer Network
• Ethical Jobs
• Knowhow Nonprofit
• Seek Volunteer
• Victoria’s Volunteering Panel
• Volunteering Queensland

International:

• Australian Volunteers International
• International Volunteer Program Association
• Projects Abroad
• Volunteer Abroad
• International Volunteering
• Universal Giving

“Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is [insert your name] and I am writing in response to the recently advertised position of [insert name of position] at [insert name of prospective organisation] … ”

Yes?

No. No. No!

When you sit down to plan a cover letter for your dream job, consider what you are trying to achieve. Sure, your end game will be to actually land the position, but you have a few things to nail before you get anywhere near the interview room.

Below is our Go-To Guide for Writing a Killer Cover Letter and landing that big interview.

Pause & Ask Yourself Why

Ask yourself why you are writing a cover letter.

Okay, so the job description mentions that you need to include one, but think about why this is being asked of you. It may seem tedious, and ridiculously time-consuming, but the whole point of a cover letter is to assist people at the other end of your application to decide whether they want to meet you.

Make their job easier! Sell yourself and your skills and enthusiasm for the role from the start.

O-riginal Tip: Don’t punish a recruitment manager by making him/her read two to three paragraphs before they even get to the relevant information about you (assuming they bother to keep reading). You don’t need a long-winded introduction, just get straight into it.

The trick is to think about what a prospective employer is looking for in an applicant for the role they have advertised, and respond appropriately. Normally job adverts have a helpful “about you” section or selection criteria where they actually list the qualities they are looking for in a successful applicant.

Each piece of information you include about yourself, your skills, or experience must serve the ultimate purpose of making you a more attractive applicant. If you are applying for a graduate role in a professional services industry, for example, ask yourself whether your babysitting career as a teenager is relevant. If it isn’t – don’t include it!

New Job, New Cover Letter

You know those carbon copy cover letters we all guilty of sending out?

You have a general template and then you do a quick copy and paste, with a few Ctrl F’s to insert the company or organisation’s name throughout your letter. Or you might be super savvy and have a mail-merge set-up.

Either way, go ahead and throw away any hard copies you have already printed into the recycling bin and straight out delete digital copies from your computer. This just isn’t going to work.

Any recruitment manager, CEO or senior partner worth their salt will take one look at this type of letter, roll their eyes and say “NEXT!”

You need to show that you are genuinely interested in the role.

Sending a one-size-fits-all letter will not cut it in this very competitive job market. It is clear to a recruitment manager that you have not invested any time or effort in applying for their role.

Recruiting and hiring staff is expensive, so it is up to you to prove to the company or organisation that you are worth that investment. It may seem like a lot of work, but taking the time to write a genuine and personalised cover letter that shows your personality will get your application noticed and drastically increase your chances of getting an interview.

O-riginal Tip: Always make sure your letter is addressed to a person and not “To whom it may concern.” If you cannot find a contact person on the company website, pick up the phone and give recruitment a call.

Always get a name.

Do Your Research

It seems like an obvious point but this really requires you to look past the first two pages of a company, organisation or government website.

If you are applying to work within a particular team, research the managers, partners or senior staff of that team. Stalk their LinkedIn profiles, look at their career progression, find out what boards they sit on and read up on projects, initiatives, cases or other work they have been, or are currently, involved in.

If you can use any of this information in your cover letter – do it. The trick here is to make it natural and part of a letter about you.

If you cannot use any of the above information, that’s fine – think about what team or role you are applying for, and how your past experience and/or skills will best align and complement the job. Highlight these, without repeating your resume.

O-riginal Tip: As you write your cover letter, think about highlighting a skill or quality you have, and explain how this has the potential to add value to the role or team. This way you can identify what you will bring to the role and also show that you understand the company and its values or objectives.

Keep It Short And Sweet

Format, tone and brevity are all important here.

Unless a job description specifically asks you to answer certain questions (and many government and graduate roles do), aim for a cover letter of less than 1 page and in no less than 11 pitch font.

O-riginal Tip: White space is super important. You want it to be easy to read. Stick to the basic rule of one idea to one sentence.

Keep the language formal but in your own voice. Applications for most professional service industry roles are still pretty conventional – we have not yet seen the kind of creative applications common among marketing and advertising roles filter through these industries.

Remember to make sure that you still sound like you.

The cover letter is your introduction or first impression to the company or organisation before they bring you in for an interview – stay true to you!

Proofread

More than twice. Probably three times. Definitely walk away from the draft before you come back to it and have a final read-through – out loud.

If nothing else, make sure that you have spelt the name of the company or organisation correctly.

Before hitting send, check you are sending your application from an appropriate email address!

O-riginal Tip: If you have highlighted your “attention to detail” then you better make sure that this attention to detail is plainly evident throughout your cover letter, and that your spelling and grammar are up to scratch.

At The End Of The Day

Applying for a new job in the current climate is not easy. But if you invest the time and energy into tailoring your cover letter to the role and organisation you want to work for, then you are far more likely to get a call for an interview and, potentially, the job!

Good luck with your applications!

Think we’ve missed anything? Would you like to see us cover more career hacks for Millennials? Let us know in the comments section below! 

It is relentless, distracting and exhausting.

Technology allows us to check email and draft an immediate response anytime and anywhere. While queuing for our morning coffee, while waiting at a pedestrian crossing, or even while killing time on the train during our daily commute. For most of us, sending a quick, and often ill-considered, email has not only become commonplace but also socially acceptable.

For the recipient of a poorly-constructed email, however, this approach delivers a duel message. They receive your intended email, of course, but between your lines of text lie a hidden message which reveals itself subliminally through your tone. Rushed emails that omit common greetings, use passive aggressive language or make unreasonable demands, for example, betray a lot about you and your environment.

Nailing the right tone for emails is one of the most important, yet consistently undervalued, components of any job.

But what if you do not have the job yet? How can you follow up on a job application without coming across as desperate, needy or irritating?

The Situation

Sending out a number of job applications and not hearing back for several weeks (or even up to a month) can be acutely demoralising.

While most companies notify unsuccessful applicants, an increasing number are failing to get in touch with those who have not been selected for interview at all.

This makes knowing whether you have been eliminated from the list of potentials, or whether they are still considering your application, extremely difficult. Not knowing where you stand can leave you in a constant state of frustration, anxiety and uncertainty.

The good news is that there is no need to wait by your phone or jump at the first sign of a new email.

Make a decision and take control.

Step 1: Settle in for the long haul

Relax. Recruitment processes take a LONG time.

Allow at least two weeks, and sometimes up to one month, from the time you first lodged your application before thinking about following up. Sending an email any sooner will come across as too eager and demanding, which could result in more harm than good.

Step 2: Follow up 

If over two weeks have passed with no correspondence, you may wish to consider checking on the progress of the recruitment round.

You can call the relevant contact officer, or send a short email.

How To Pull If Off The Right Tone

Follow up emails are a tricky and temperamental beast.

Sending a balanced, considerate and well-crafted email that achieves its objective (without getting a potential employer off sides) is an art form which requires time, consideration and skill.

A template example of what NOT to send:

Dear [insert name of recruitment manager]

I applied for [insert name of position] with [insert name of organisation] some time ago but have not heard anything back.

Could someone please let me know what is going on and when interviews will be held??

Cheers

[insert your name]

Do not take your frustrations out on recruitment. This structure and tone will immediately antagonise a potential employer and your application will be scrapped. Here’s why.

The email starts by accusing the organisation of being disorganised or slow with recruitment. Its passive aggressive tones will not be well-received by most people. It goes on to demand information about internal company timelines and processes which the applicant (as someone external to the organisation) may not be entitled to. Lastly, it assumes that the applicant will be called in for an interview – a decision which has not yet been made by recruitment.

A better, professional template you may wish to consider using:

Dear [insert name of recruitment manager]

I hope this email finds you well.

I just wanted to follow up on the progress of recruitment for the [insert position that was advertised] in respect of which I was an applicant.

I would be grateful if you could let me know if this position has been filled.

Thank you very much.

Best wishes

[insert your name]

Benefits Of Being Bold

Knowing that you can follow up on the progress of a job application places you in a position of power.

Learning whether or not you are still in the race means you can focus your energy either on preparing for your possible upcoming interview, or moving on and finding a better job.

What strategies do you use when following up on a possible job? Let us know in the comments section below!

Further Information 

Some great resources to kick-start your job search:

Legal Jobs:

• Law Societies
• Legal Aid
• BeyondLaw Job Hub
• Pro Bono Australia
• RRRLaw
• eFinancialCareers

Federal Government:

• Australian Local Government Job Directory
• Australian Public Service Jobs
• Australian Public Service Graduate Programs
• Australian Job Search (JobActive)

NGO and community work:

• EthicalJobs
• HAC Jobs
• NGO Recruitment
• Trans Remote Assistance
• JobSeeker

State Government and Council:

• NSW Government
• Victoria Government
• Queensland Government
• South Australian Government 
• ACT Government
• Western Australian Government
• Tasmanian Government
• Northern Territory Government

Creative Industries:

• MUmbrella
• Australian Infront
• Creative Foyer
• Creative Pool
• Freelance Factory
• Ozlance
• Pedestrian Jobs
• The Loop
• Adcorp
• COMJobs

“If you’re in control, the chaos will happen around you, not to you.”

It’s a fine theory. Unless, like us, you fall into a special category of people in this world who thrive on being Master Procrastinators.

Awash With Ineptitude 

The brain of a procrastinator experiences a regular flood of self-loathing combined with steady undercurrents of guilt and shame. The more we will our minds to work in a certain direction, the more the raging current of our subconscious sweeps us down a different, and usually more scenic, stream.

A stream that requires minimal intellectual effort and the allocation of important time and energy to infinitely more enjoyable pursuits… such as finding the perfect dancing gif to go along with a Facebook birthday message (because being a really good friend is your most important job in life).

The Perfect Gif. Look at him go.

Somewhere in the time it takes us to fall groggily out of bed in the morning, accidentally step on the dog, and pour juice into our cereal we convince ourselves that, irrespective of the chaos around us:

We research countless productivity apps such as Evernote, 30/30, Wunderlist, Reminders, and spend hours dreaming about a perfect, goal-kicking and uninterrupted work day.

If only we could find the perfect playlist to drown out that annoying colleague with chronic baby voice, then we could definitely stay focused on a single task long enough to see it through to completion. As it happens, here’s a perfect productivity playlist we prepared earlier:

O-Tip: The right choice of tunes really can help you remain sane and productive in a challenging workplace. If all else fails, opt for noise-cancelling headphones.

Point Of Permanent Paralysis

Somewhat ironically, procrastination can help us get jobs done. Putting off important tasks forces us to reconsider tackling non-urgent items on our ‘To Do’ list that we may not ordinarily make time for. However, beware of becoming complacent and teetering too close to the zone of no return.

When you least expect it, you can enter the Point of Permanent Paralysis – a procrastinator’s version of absolute zero. It’s a dangerous frozen mental state that is usually brought on quite suddenly after several days/weeks/months of intensive procrastination.

It happens when crushing work pressure comes at you from all angles. Panic sets in and you cannot decide which task to begin first because, thanks to your procrastination, now everything is urgent. Your brain has no option but to trigger its emergency coping mechanism and punch out early for the day.

During one of these episodes, and in spite of your best efforts to snap into action, you can resign yourself to an afternoon of:

1. absently chewing the edge of an empty styrofoam cup;
2. searching for divine inspiration from a pile of paperclips; and
3. imagining how you would celebrate winning The Amazing Race (by sumo wrestling in suits of bubble wrap, of course).

To avoid sabotaging your career by tumbling down the Point of Permanent Paralysis rabbit hole, it is essential to establish firm contingency plans that save you from yourself.

Make Order Of The Chaos

Your first order of business is to organise your tasks. Once you do this, everything else will fall into place.

Step 1: Write it down 

Getting all your thoughts on paper frees your mind of the mental burden required to recall everything you need to achieve. It creates thought space to problem solve and allows you to work through each task systematically.

Step 2: Sort your thoughts

Decide what you need to prioritise, according to the Eisenberg Matrix, below. Then catalogue your tasks in a corresponding list with four columns.

• Important, but not urgent

For example, deciding whether to have laksa or sushi for lunch. Save menu surfing for 10 minutes before lunch, rather than right after you arrive at 8.30am.

• Urgent and important

For example, writing a proposal due by COB today. Start this as soon as you get to the office. Everything else, including checking your emails, can wait.

• Not important, and not urgent

For example, clearing out your exploding inbox. If it is impacting your workflow, set aside 20 minutes later in the afternoon to organise your emails. Only move to this if you have already finished your most urgent, and intellectually taxing, task for the day.

• Urgent, but not important

For example, re-writing a company training manual. If it’s not important enough to demand your time, delegate this to someone more junior than you. You can go over their work and make corrections once they finish the first draft.

The good thing about organising your tasks in order of priority is that it frees you to channel the wasted intellectual energy you ordinarily spend stressing about what you need to do, into being productive and actually getting it done.

Step 3: Reward yourself 

Work for an hour, then reward yourself by getting up for a break.

Why not interrupt the steady work flow of one of your more disciplined work friends? Everyone loves to be harassed for a compulsory break, especially if it means grabbing a coffee or peppermint tea, and a brownie.

A chat and walk in the fresh air will make you feel incredible and creatively rejuvenated for the rest of the day. Plus, the cocoa in your brownie will help with your chronic exhaustion.

Conclusion

As with any difficult task, the hardest part is making a start. Tell yourself that you will spend an hour reading up about a particular subject, or writing a few notes down. Before you realise it, you will be 2-3 hours into the project and almost finished.

This psychological sleight of hand is one of the easiest, and most effective, ways to outwit your procrastinating alter ego and beat your ‘To Do’ list into submission.

What strategies do you use to get work done when your brain would rather have an unscheduled holiday? Let us know in the comments section below!