GXY SEARCH

We talk a lot about career transition and rebooting your career here at GXY not only because we have a fabulous program that can help you sort your shit out, but also because many of us here have also experienced serious job confusion and if we can shed any light on the subject well that’s just peachy.

So as Sister Maria once trilled whilst frolicking in the Austrian countryside-lets start at the very beginning: your career reboot basics.  Making the change is likely to be a barrage of highs and lows so it’s good to get an idea of what to expect.

Firstly, learn to love the waiting game cos waiting to hear back for a job can be rather like sitting by the phone waiting for a date to call.  Once you have signed up for the obligatory search boards like SEEK, The Loop, Mumbrella and Pedestrian.TV (to name but a few), joined a recruitment company like GXY Search, and sent out seemingly thousands of letters of interest; chances are you will only hear back from a handful.

Speaking of resumes, be prepared to get yours in tip top shape.  A crap resume will not be accepted, nor will one filled with useless information-no one cares that you were the lead singer in year 9 choir, nor that you won the 25 metre sprint in Prep.

Your cover letter should also sparkle, and be tailored towards the job you are applying for.  The extra effort will always be appreciated.

As we have mentioned here before, you may also need to think outside the square and work on your contacts.  Networking is a key part of the career transition process and as you can be introduced to some brilliant people.

You must also come up with a plan should you get the call that you are wanted for an interview.  A quick Google Search will turn up a host of frequently asked interview questions and a recruiter can easily guide you along the right path.

Be prepared though, that despite all your hard work, sometimes fate steps in to mess with your plans. It’s a tough part of the job seeking reality but sometimes, even when you do your best, the fates align against you and you miss out.  It’s up to you however to scrape yourself off the ground and get back out there.

Trust us, the right position will come along eventually and all the effort will be worth it.

Sometimes at GXY Headquarters we come across some genius articles that we simply can’t ignore, they are so super spot on.  Such was the case this morning when PR whiz Nick Smith came across this little ripper via The Daily Muse on Forbes.com, entitled The First Step to Building Your Personal Brand.

During the career transition process, (and even when you are gainfully employed), every single move you make will be thoroughly scrutinised; so it is important that when you are jobseeking, you discover your brand and what it stands for, and continue to maintain it to the best of your ability.

Don’t be naïve when assessing your employer’s personality, as no matter how cupcake cute and cuddly they may appear, their first movement will be to jump on the web and track your online footprint.  And if a job role comes down to you and someone else who is not puffing away/bleary eyed/swearing like a sailor on Facebook, it’s pretty much a given the latter will come up trumps.

So how do you ensure your brand is bloody brill?  Well, the first step according to the aforementioned article is to develop your brand ‘mantra’.

Now hold your horses those of you with a phobia of all things Age of Aquarius, as we are not suggesting you grow dreads and join a naked chanting circle.  In the case of your personal branding mantra we are simply suggesting a catchphrase of sorts, that will sum up who you are and what you represent.

The Daily Muse suggests a few simple steps.  For the purpose of this post lets pick a case study,  up-and-coming actor Ryan Gosling.   Ok I have Oscars on the brain but it IS round the corner and don’t fret as once we hit the 27^th July it’ll be all about the Olympics baby.

But back to branding mantras.

The first step is to find your emotional appeal.  Are you organised? Hysterically funny?  Incredibly wise?  It doesn’t have to be elaborate either, it can be as simple as HAPPY or SAD.  Also note that there are no negative connotations in branding.  If you were to pick a word like ‘sad’ you must recognise that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if this is applicable to the roles you are interested in then go for it!

Consider how you make people feel, and what others think of you.  The perfect word for Ryan is obviously DREAMY but for his emotional appeal let’s go with ROMANTIC.  This is probably a little one-dimensional as he obviously has more than rom-com appeal, but it’s definitely one of his emotional traits.  And come on, even blokes were moved by The Notebook.

Next you need to determine a description for yourselves-what do you stand for, what is your industry?  If you were an athlete you could pick FIT, ACTIVE etc.  Maybe you are a little less black and white, and are simply CREATIVE.  As RG’s field is on the silver screen, let’s pick ENTERTAINING.

Finally, your brand mantra must reflect what it is you actually do!  Are you a writer, graphic deigner, plumber, PR whiz, media magnate, marketing guru, fashionista?  What services can you offer?  What makes you stand out from the crowd?  Gosling would be a PERFORMER.

So there you have it folks-a chant free guide to get your brand on a roll, the first step to a successful career reboot.

And now let us leave you with one of the all time great moments in cinematic history, starring our ROMANTIC, ENTERTAINING PERFORMER Mr Ryan Gosling.

So you’ve made the scary decision of transitioning careers-congratulations!!  It takes guts to chase your dreams and partake in new adventures.  They may not always pan out perfectly first time round but to aid you in your quest it is best to BE PREPARED.

A fabulous way to get some insight into your next career, or better yet GET YOU A JOB, is networking.  Bear in mind however that this is not a license to go to a party, get trashed, laugh loudly (and phonily) at every lame joke, and come home with a bunch of business cards.  Chances are, your overbearing ways will simply turn off a potential employer.

On the flip side, if you are a naturally bubbly, perhaps loud personality that is OK-it’s important to be yourself as people will relate to you more easily.  Just read the play and scope out your group, and if you need to tone it down so be it.  Some of you may also be a little shyer or even introverted and that’s OK too.  This is a big step you are embarking on and being thrust into a room of experts could cause even the most attention-seeking applicant to shrink back.

Here it is important to listen to what is being said, take some time to process what is being said and ask questions if necessary.  Do a bit of research before hand so you can hold your own, but also take the event as an opportunity to learn.

A bit of small talk can also be a good way to lighten the mood.  OK so maybe don’t start with the state of Brangelina’s marriage (unless it is relevant to the field, in which case go for it!), but scan the paper that day for some interesting headlines, talk about the food or venue you are in, or even go for something more personal like favourite books, movies etc.  It’s not Academy Award winning dialogue but it will serve to lighten the mood and warm you up to more important queries.

It’s best also to focus on one conversation at a time of between 2 to 4 people at most.  Regaling a room full of people with your theories on life to a group of strangers may come off a little overbearing.  Sticking to small groups will increase your chances of making solid foundations and connections.

So the next time you are at an event, strike up a conversation with someone-you never know where it may lead you…

Melbourne gal Kate Hamilton met Mel on a recent camping trip in Wilson’s Prom and the two instantly hit it off. When Mel mentioned the GXY REBOOT Summit workshop before her last trip to Base Camp, Kate was instantly intrigued and became a last minute entrant to the gang bound for Nepal for our most recent adventure.

The former Director of Business Development for Aviation Screening provider Rapiscan, Kate has recently gone freelance taking some time off to study an MBA Executive at RMIT/Open Universities and consult and advise local businesses in strategy planning.

A trip up one of Mother Nature’s greatest creations was a sure fire way to spice things up,  as Kate immersed herself in her new chosen transition from full time employment-even if it did mean she had to make do without a hot shower at the end of a long day of trekking!

Read more

Brad Sewell, current Hawthorn Hawk, adventure seeker and all round good bloke, was an integral part of the recent GXY REBOOT trek up Mt Everest.

A participant in the GXY REBOOT workshops since it began, Brad provided valuable insights and merit to the REBOOT team as he took part to combine the knowledge he gained through his recently completed business degree, with his hectic on-field training sessions, and to prepare himself for life after football.

Not only has Brad had a whole lotta fun since joining the program, he has also managed to get some real value out of it all, broadening his horizons, and making clever use of his vast network of contacts so as to really utilise his skills.

Read more

An interesting article recently hit the desks of Reboot headquarters, detailing me, us, and you dear readers, plus your fellow Gen Y compatriots; and how we have all managed to come out the other side of the global financial crisis relatively unscathed.

Titled ‘Reality Bites” and penned by Joel Meares in The Good Weekend (November 12th 2011); the article was a fresh perspective on our generation and how we are a lot cleverer than we are usually given credit for.

That’s right, us spoiled, whingeing, “I want it all and I want it now” layabouts have successfully proved that despite appearances we are in fact quite capable of succeeding in this big bad world of ours far beyond the expectations of our Boomer parents and Gen X predecessors.

Read more

Sometimes in life, no matter how hard we try, shit hits the fan and there aint nothing that can be done about it. Whether it be in love, lust, work or play; the reality is that sometimes reality bites. It’s how you overcome the hurdles and obstacles that are put in your path that really separates the meek from the mighty.

At GXY Reboot, we see a lot of people who are struggling with where to go next in their careers-hell we’ve all been there. We’d like to tell you that we are so wise, clever and beautiful around here that nothing ever goes wrong, but alas it simply isn’t so. Well of course the whole beauty and brains thing is true, (naturally) but the pitfalls stuff not so much.

It was fitting then, that our recent trip to Everest was not quite the dream adventure that we had initially anticipated…

Read more

It’s been a couple of weeks since the GXY Reboot gang headed off to Everest for some mountain frolicking, Sherpa hugging, and serious goat patting. That’s what happens on Everest surely!

Ok so they do have a more serious purpose, they are undergoing the awesome Reboot program, and it sounds like things are going swimmingly! Or hikingly even!

Pete “Pistol” Summers let us in on what the terrific trekkers have been up to….

“We have been trekking for six days now and the first signs of altitude sickness are starting to hit the team. We had one member get food poisoning and nearly pass out on the trek. We have been trekking between 6-8 hours a day, I now understand what Mel was saying when she said she will knock out anyone who says “are you just going to basecamp?”

It sounds disastrous but we are having the best time! Everyone is getting on like a house on fire! We have had some amazing treks along the way. I can’t explain how beautiful the scenery is, the mountains are so intimidating! You can’t imagine how magnificent they are, pictures just don’t do them justice.

We have all taken the pledge to be vegetarians so our diet consists of fried potatoes, toast, fried rice, garlic soup and the famous veggie Momos for breaky, lunch and dinner!!!! Momos are like a little dumpling, I reckon we eat 40 a day!! Everyone is dreaming of their first meal when they get back!! Mine is a chicken roast.

The team dynamic is remarkable; each member of the trek brings a unique element to make the experience memorable. I have no doubt that some long term relationships are in the making. We have completed the passions, priorities and personality section of Reboot. The first session we conducted worked so well because we had been trekking or a few days and had built the trust amongst one another to really open up and share some personal information. Everyone was really buoyant after that.

We have some tough days ahead so we are all resting up and maintaining the fluids to make it to the top! Three days and we’ll be at base camp if everything goes to plan! Fingers crossed!!

Over and out from Periche!!!!!

Namaste!!!

When rebooting your life and undergoing a transition from school/uni to work, old job to new job, it is critical to grasp and embrace your passions so as to truly get the greatest potential from your role. We’re talking serious passion-the kind that puts a little spring in your step as you leap out of bed, a smile on your dial as you pop out the door and a trill in your voice as you laugh through the day. Not Tommy Lee and Pammy honeymoon passion though. That would just be creepy.

So how do we bring passion in our lives eh? By focusing on three key principles-Pride, Enjoyment and Flow.

Think about a moment when you were truly proud. A time you were so thrilled with your performance you beamed. Not a time that made your Mum, Dad, Sister, Brother, Granny, Boyfriend, Girlfriend, De Facto ex-Wife Living In Your Dream House proud; but YOU. Can you picture it?

Maybe it was when you were little? Did you lead the soccer team at recess? David Bowie’d the hell out of choir? Kicked ass at finger painting?

Maybe these moments are a little more recent (and a little more subtle!) Did you provide leadership to a group? Develop a new approach to a problem or issue? Influenced someone in a leadership role to change the way they do things?

Take these proud moments and apply them to your everyday work and life, it’ll lead to a sense of satisfaction each and every day.

Ok so you know what makes you proud, but hell, you still gotta enjoy yourself. Life is not worth living if you aint having fun. Well maybe ‘fun’ is not the right word as life isn’t a party and thank goodness for that or we’d all be living in a constant state of hangover, and who really wants to wake up with a tiger in the bathroom, one less tooth and an errant baby in the cupboard??

Enjoyment means simply to take pleasure in what you’re doing, and thus do it the best you can. When you love what you do, you put more of yourself into the task at hand and create a passionate energy that feeds into your work and makes any task an enjoyable one.

Then you can get in the zone. Quality of life expert Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi, is a man with big ideas (and a bloody big name), in particular the theory of flow. Flow is what happens when you are undertaking a task that sucks you in so deep that hours passing can seem like only minutes. It most likely occurs when you love what you are doing and so it feels totally effortless, a breeze in fact.

Think about a time you have felt all these things and you will hopefully discover your passions and trust us, you will find yourself one step closer to the career of your dreams.

As previously touched on on this blog, we have recently developed GXY’s Reboot program, a platform for current and ex athletes to discover their passions outside the sporting landscape, and put into practice when they are no longer able to perform on the footy field, tennis court, diving board, bowling alley…you get the drift.

On April 19^th of this year, a group of ex-AFL players congregated for the pilot session of the career workshop, held in sunny Torquay in Victoria to embark on a day of kickin’ it on the waves Point Break style.  Without the dead Presidents masks.   Or bank robberies and drug busts.  Or getting shot and flung out of a helicopter.  Hmmm, ok maybe Point Break was the wrong analogy….

But I digress.  So these five ex-footy players, namely Shane Valenti, Simon Prestigiacomo, Taylor Gilchrist, Tristan Francis and Jamason Daniels, gathered at uber-hip eatery St Ali in South Melbourne, before embarking on the first ever Reboot program.  From the café, the talented posse loaded into a mini bus (or mega car if you like), and ventured off into the unknown.  Seriously, these guys had no frickin idea what was to come.

Whilst getting to know one another in the van, the group generated an email, and in response were sent 5 surfer management details, available to track down famed Aussie surfer Tom Carroll (a name they gathered solving the clues gained from said management-very Scooby Doo-esque) who was due to arrive shortly at Avalon airport.  The van ride proved highly successful, as it encouraged the guys to work as a team find solutions when difficulties arose-valuable lessons which can easily be applied in work and life.

After collecting Tom from the airport, the team headed to the Quiksilver Head Office in Torquay, to workshop and discuss the six key Reboot mantras and keys to success-passion, priorities, performance, personality, persistence and planning; then learn how to apply theses in a career setting.

After a day of learning the gang headed off to nearby Jan Juc beach for some sun and fun, whilst still ensuring the participants stayed true to the GXY brand values.  The boys undertook a surfing lesson from members of the Torquay Surf School which was also attended by Tom, who demonstrated his surfing and wave-riding skills.  Gnarly factor? Off the charts.

Following this once in a lifetime activity, the team bid farewell to their radical new mates, and sped off into the sunset feeling alive, inspired, and bloody exhausted.