Most jobs, like relationships, tend to hum along for a while until that itchy feeling hits and you find yourself thinking less about how to please your beloved and more about the potentially attractive options available online…

But when that ‘blah’ feeling hits at work, is leaving your job really the best option? You’d expect a headhunter to answer that question with a resounding “You betcha and let’s discuss it over lunch”, but here at GXY, we’re all about helping you achieve your long-term career objectives.    

Fact is, unless your boss is a creep and your company is going under, there may be good reasons to stay and try to work it out for the kids. Let’s face it, if you’re a great employee, you’ve probably invested a lot of energy in building your reputation, getting to grips with internal politics and finding a few cool people to have lunch with. That’s a LOT to give up. And if you really are a great employee, chances are that your boss will be open to discussing ways to bring back that loving feeling.

But before you go in all guns blazing to talk about ‘us’, make sure you’re really clear about why you’re not happy and what needs to change. Analyse the way you spend your time and work out which tasks you enjoy and which tasks bum you out. The goal is to reorganise your role to do more of the former and less of the latter. If that can’t be done, the goal is a new role within the organisation.

When you do approach your boss, it pays to be specific about what needs to change and provide some ideas about how this might work in practice. Also, think about the situation from your boss’s perspective. What’s in it for them to change your job description or move you? Make a case for why it’s in their best interests and will benefit the organisation. Will your productivity improve? Will you do an even better job? Will you be able to help develop someone else?

And whatever you do, don’t threaten to leave. It makes you look whiney and it’s generally completely unnecessary because the very fact that you’ve made time with your boss to ‘have a chat about how things are going’ will already have them thinking “Shit, this surprisingly useful person isn’t happy and if they go I’ll have wasted all that time training them and that bastard from finance probably won’t even let me replace them.”

So, there you have it. As in romance, leaving really shouldn’t be your first option (unless of course there’s violence involved or someone’s asking you to relocate to Morwell.)

As head hunters, we regularly see candidates turning down interesting jobs because they don’t pay enough. We’ve all got bills to pay, right? And when someone’s approached you about a role, it seems only fair that the offer is fiscally enticing (or at least involves sharing a hotel room with Ryan Gosling).

Broadly speaking, we totally get why people don’t want to take a punt on a new role for less cash. There are, however, a number of circumstances in which it might pay to be more open-minded. Fact is, sometimes it is a good idea to take a step backwards financially…

When the job market STINKS. When the economy’s flat-lining, you may have to compromise to get a role you want. And more often than not, that compromise will involve taking a salary you wouldn’t have considered in rosier times.  Packages in many sectors are not what they were five years ago. On the up side, gone too is the stigma associated with taking a pay cut to move. These days people understand that careers – and salaries – don’t always follow a neat upwards trajectory.  

When you’re moving into a new industry or profession. There’s a price to pay for starting over, but fortunately it’s usually offset by the professional satisfaction that comes with doing something you really want to do. If you can sell your past experience as being relevant to your new gig you might be able to avoid accepting a beginner’s salary. That said, more often than not you’re going to have to swallow your pride, cancel your Foxtel subscription and focus on the long-term game.

When you need critical experience. If there’s a gaping hole in your CV, or an obvious ‘next step’ you need to take to get where you want to go, it might just be worth ‘investing’ in your career by taking a lower paying gig. 

When the role will take you places, FAST. Taking a pay cut makes sense if it gets you into an organisation or industry that’s growing exponentially. If you’re any good, you’re likely to get promoted quickly, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a shitload of shares in the next Big Thing!

When your current role is going nowhere. Lastly, it could be worth forgoing the big bucks to be happier. If you are hit with a wave of dread around 5pm every Sunday, it’s time to polish up the CV and hit LinkedIn. No amount of money is worth wasting your life in a dead-end job.  And anyhow, if you enjoy what you do, chances are you’ll end up doing well in the long run. After all, a successful career is a marathon, not a sprint.

In case you missed it, US employers have a new recruitment practice: asking candidates to grant them access to their facebook accounts. Apparently recruiters are frustrated by privacy settings that block them from snooping around your social media. There are different approaches from what we can gather: some HR folk send you a friend request – embarrassing to decline during the recruitment process – while others ask you to log-in on their computer so you can take a browse through your private life together. Worse still, some are asking for your username and password so they can peruse your mailbox at their leisure.

Fortunately, the practice has attracted the ire of facebook itself (taking an unusually pro-privacy stance) and a number of Democrat senators who have asked for the legality of the practice to be investigated.

It’s hard to believe that any candidate would comply with such an outrageous request, but people are. The US job market is TOUGH. So tough that people are prepared to work for organisations that flaunt their disregard for employees’ right to private life.

Things haven’t got so ugly in Australia, thank God, but we think this story raises two valuable points for candidates to keep in mind:

• A job interview is a two-way street: don’t focus solely on impressing them – make sure you are checking out your potential employer
• Employers are increasingly viewing candidates as ‘entire people’ and not just ‘workers’.

A job interview should be like a date: everyone’s putting their best foot forward but also looking for clues as to why the other party might be a serial killer. When a job sounds amazing on paper, it’s easy to go into the interview all pumped and ready to sell yourself. And that’s fine, so long as your enthusiasm doesn’t deafen you to subtle and not-so-subtle clues about your prospective boss or employer. When an employer tells you they’ve had a real problem with turnover, alarm bells should start to ring. When they casually enquire about your age, fertility status or political beliefs, you should politely decline the job and remind them of their obligations under anti-discrimination laws. When they ask to access your facebook account, you should run screaming into the street, grab a megaphone and let the world know what they’re up to.

As for the increasing tendency of employers to want to get to know the ‘whole’ you: this has pros and cons. Facebook is out of bounds, no question about it, but LinkedIn actually provides an awesome opportunity to sell your skills and your ideas online. It takes a bit of time, but building a really slick LinkedIn profile – and becoming an ‘influencer’ by participating in high-profile groups and debates – is a great way to market yourself to potential employers. It’s also a great way to demonstrate your social media savvy, which is one of the things employers are checking for when they try to see what you’re up to on facebook. (And yes, that’s standard practice in Australia). If you want to see how a great LinkedIn profile is done, check out this article. And while you’re at it, check your facebook privacy settings, because they have changed since timeline was introduced.

In tough economic times, it can seem almost impossible to ‘reboot’ your career. You can’t help but wonder whether Nepotism is rife when primo roles don’t even make it to the classifieds.

From the moment we are old enough to seek work, we have preconceived ideas about how to go about it. When you’re old enough to babysit you do a letterbox drop to your neighbours. When you hit 18 you drop your CV at bars you like, hoping for some weekend shifts to fund those nights out (when you probably should be home studying…) Once you reach the pointy end of uni you start getting all serious: applying for internships and apprenticeships, signing up for job-seeking sites (SEEK, The Loop, Mumbrella,  Pedestrian.TV) and pestering you tutors. The arduous task of self-promotion and networking has begun.

And yes, as we’ve mentioned here before, these are all really important steps. However, the truly savvy jobseekers on the road to great careers don’t rely on conventional approaches – they seek out the HIDDEN job market.

The hidden market is not an in-your-face Dolly-Parton’s-cans kind of job market, but rather a more subtle, or even non-existent Fabio’s-brains kind of job market. Often, these jobs don’t even exist until you, the jobseeker, plant the seed in the mind of a potential employer that they simply can’t carry on without you.

Tapping into the hidden job market involves reaching out to anyone and everyone. Go beyond friends of friends, friends of parents and work associates. After you’ve got the part time job in that bar/shop/café you’ll probably get some regular customers. Have a chat with them as you serve them their morning caffeine hit – you’ll be amazed not only by what you discover, but the ways in which people are willing to help you with your career.

Make yourself memorable in any way possible – you want to get stuck in their minds so you’re the first person they think of when an opportunity arises. Being super helpful is an obvious way to achieve this.

Also, remember that networking is not just about selling yourself – it’s about LISTENING. One of the best ways to reboot your career is to get the inside track on how you can make a move. When you strike up a conversation with someone in the field you’re interested in, make sure you get the scoop on what’s happening in the industry. This information can be very useful in helping you position your skills when you next talk to a potential employer.

Here on the GXY Search blog we’ve discussed a whole lotta things regarding job hunting.  We’ve talked building your brand, social media (including pinterest-are you on there yet? Cos if you’re not you are missing out!!), salary, dress codes…the list goes on and on.

While we have mentioned many aspects of personal presentation, one thing we are yet to touch on is your physical mannerisms, in particular when fronting up to an interview.

A recent article on cbsnews.com notes “Much of the information that we communicate happens non-verbally via subtle signals we put out with our posture, gestures and attitude. It’s no surprise, then, that your success in a job interview depends quite a bit on almost everything except what you actually say.”

Let’s say you are looking at fashion jobs.  No one in the Melbourne fashion industry (or any fashion industry for that matter) will take too kindly to a slouching, scowling applicant.  First impressions are so important so take a little pride in how you present yourself.

Often your first gesture upon entering an interview room is the classic handshake.  It’s critical you nail this bad boy.  Don’t squeeze too hard, but don’t go limp ether.  A firm grip suggests you are confident but not over aggressive.  If nerves have got to you, make sure you dry your sweaty palms beforehand…

Once you’ve sat down be aware of what you are doing with your hands.  Don’t fiddle.  Don’t touch your face.  Even though we often do this self-consciously, touching your nose or mouth will freak out any germophobes.  It can also be read as a sign of dishonesty, and while you can always stretch the truth a tad, flat-out lying wont lead to anything good.

Keeping your hands on the table or in your lap will also help with another body language no-no.  Crossing your arms.  Probably the most obvious sign of defensiveness or passive aggression.  Seriously, we get the whole Gen X Y, tortured youth thang but surly misdemeanours are sooooo out right now.

You will also convey confidence and interest by making eye contact.  However, don’t overdo it-staring makes other people super uncomfortable.  Be wary of treading that fine line-there’s nothing worse than making natural eye contact then realising you are making eye contact then being suddenly darting your eyes away-you WILL look shifty, and shifty people are not high on a would-be employers list.  Similarly don’t let your eyes wander round the room too much-you’ll come off bored and/or flaky.

Excessive nodding will also make you come across a little cuckoo.  You are not one of those bobble-headed ornaments found on a car dashboard.  Nodding too much makes you appear like you are sucking up or that you are simply nodding for the sake of it, attempting to disguise that you have no frickin clue what’s going on!  Nod when required and when appropriate-it will prove you have your own opinions and are paying attention.

So next time you go for the job of your dreams stand up straight, smile and follow these golden rules-your confidence and effort will be truly appreciated.

Often when you are in the midst of a career transition you will discover that motivation can fall by the wayside.  When your initial gung-ho mentality takes a beating it can be very easy to chuck in the towel and take the easiest way out.  It’s easy to forget the whole reason you had a crack at a career reboot in the first place.

For those of you who think you’ll get a guarantee that things wont turn pear-shaped, you need to ask yourself “Are you havin’ a laugh!?”  The reality is, in the big bad job world there are simply NO guarantees.  At a certain point you just have to go with gut, reboot yourself, make like Roxette and listen to your heart.

However few guarantees there may be in life is no excuse not to commit.  When you find yourself on a new career path, it is important that you envision your end goal and stick to it.  And we’re not talking the kind of goals performed by the great Gary Ablett (Junior or Senior-take your pick), but the invisible kind that you strive for, the kind that may seem to elude you in the beginning but are there waiting for you reach them.

Once you have established the end goal you need to create a few mini-goals, small tasks or action steps that will make your career transition a whole lot easier.  Try and do at least one task a day.  Maybe one day you brush up your CV.  The next you could meet with someone you admire for their advice.  Another could be spent researching universty courses to further improve your skills.

No need to work on the weekends though gang you’ve still got to have a life, so make like any other Gen X or Y and head to the pub for a few ales-hell you deserve it after all your mini-goal achievements!

Be prepared that along the way you will hit a few speed bumps that could make it difficult to stay committed to the dream.  Of all the obstacles you will face along the way (and at GXY Reboot we have seen them ALL!), the greatest will undoubtedly be yourself.  We’ve all got that little voice in our heads that tells us to “pack it in”, “it’s all too hard”, or “go back to what you know”.  Not only is this counter-productive but it’s not true!!  You will get there in the end you’ve just got to ignore that nagging voice and get on with it!!

Don’t forget to celebrate this decision too!  It’s big and it’s scary and its crazy and it’s friggin awesome all at the same time!  And it may seem like you’ll never get there but trust us you will and once you reap those rewards and reboot your career the endless slog will seem so damn sweet.

Firstly, it helps to remind yourself “I am CONFIDENT”.  While you may have the faith and surety of your friends, family and peers that you will succeed, if you don’t believe in yourself you are destined for disaster.  Even Forrest Gump knew he wasn’t an idiot and the man inspired Elvis’ snazzy moves and the infamous “Shit Happens” bumper sticker for goodness sake!  Each day, as you put yourself out there remind yourself of all the amazing abilities you have to offer, particularly when you hit a bump in the road-acknowledge your mistakes but be strong enough to move on from them.

Next, you’ve gotta remember “I am COMMITTED”!  Stick to your guns, and don’t give up!!  Sounds cheesy but it is oh so true!  That dream fashion job, marketing role or PR career is calling your name (contact us to find out more at GXY Search!), so COMMIT to the journey because you will eventually get there, and all your struggles you endure along the way will only make it that much sweeter in the end.  Hell, look at certified train wreck Lindsay Lohan, she even did time in the slammer but the gal just keeps on keeping on! Even her latest disastrous effort on SNL surely wont hold La Lohan down, and that my friends, is true commitment.

Finally, when chanting your inner mantra never forget “I am in CONTROL”.  You and only you, hold your destiny in your palms and don’t you forget it.  Look at all those kids on Top Model-when Tyra, Nigel or the great Andre Leon Talley gets stuck into them for not “smizing” enough, or having “no neck” (first world problems people), they just keep their chin up, put their shoulders back and smize the shit out of their next photo shoot.  Take criticism in your stride peops and learn from it, because at the end of the day it’s up to you to take the reigns.

So follow these important three C’s, and who knows that dream job in Melbourne fashion could be right round the corner…

Via Inc.

When you find yourself on the path of a career reboot and have made it to interview stage, you will undoubtedly have done your research, got your papers in order and generally got your shit together.  If you haven’t, then have a gander here.

For those of you who have, well done!  You are well on your way to job success.  However, I’ll take a stab in the dark here and guess that amidst all the administrative prep, and unless you are after a career in fashion (in which case have you spoken to our gal Holly?) you have given slim to no thought to the threads you’ll be rocking on the day.  And this dear readers, is a problemo.  And at GXY Search we aim not for problems, but solutions!

So how do you dress for the job you want?  Some businesses will offer a glaringly obvious dress code.  Rocking up to an interview at a law firm in ripped jeans and grubby boots is totes innapropes, no matter how swag they may be (case in point).

Similarly, attending an interview in a sharply creased suit at somewhere like GXY Search, where the dress code is more relaxed (seriously one Nick Smith loves to don a wife-beater and thongs when he can.  Ok maybe I am stretching the truth a liiiiitle, but you get the gist), will also send the wrong message to your potential employer.

If in doubt use your noggin and have an educated guess.  As a rule of thumb you are better off being too formal than too casual, and always, ALWAYS keep it neat and tidy.  Alternatively do some research as you would any other aspect of the role.  Maybe even do a drive-by and watch as people come and go-please note we do not endorse creepy stalker behaviour.

No need to go too crazy though-as much as we’d all love to hit up Chapel Street for a new set of duds, it’s completely unnecessary to spend a fortune on a whole new outfit.  If you have something nice on hand that’s neat and clean you’ll be fine.

Accessories are also vital.  All you blokes, for goodness sake, don’t start adorning yourself in gold chains and earrings.  Unless you are the great Mr T-you will be pitied fool!!  Ladies this applied to you also.  By all means wear some subtle jewellery, even something small and quirky!  But wait until you actually have the job and get the overall workplace vibe before you start with long feathered earrings and berets.  Ditto on the makeup-unless you are a auditioning for a Cyndi Lauper cover band leave the blue eyeshadow and 80’s paraphernalia at home.

Finally, the perfect interview would not be complete without the perfect shoes!!  There are only two rules when it comes to interview footwear-comfort and cleanliness.  The last thing you need to worry about is how high/tight your shoes may be so make sure they keep you feelin’ good.  And donning a pair of dirty, scummy shoes will scream to your potential employer that you simply don’t give a toss; and if you’re already over it by the interview then why on earth would they wont you to come back?

So keep it clean team, because every little detail can make a massive difference.

These are the things you are not taught at school, you can’t read in a book, and are certainly not highlighted on the job description.  They are personality traits that will make you stand out from the pack, that make you memorable, that take you from average employee to indispensible employee.

Learn to take the job description itself with a grain of salt.  This doesn’t mean you need to disregard it entirely, but take the role and make it yours.  Think outside the box, stay late if you need to, think on your feet, adapt to the situation at hand and for Gods sake, use some bloody common sense!  Don’t wait to be told what to do-you were hired because you’re capable so sort it out!

The best employees are often those who are a little bit nutty.  Not Glenn Close bunny boiler nutty; but quirky in a good way.  A vibrant personality (note this is a quality to be found in loud and softly-spoken employees for those of you who may be a little shy) will foster a fun, friendly HAPPY working environment, and happy workers make better, more productive workers.  Know when it’s time to dial down the crazy though and learn to read the play.  Cracking gags while those around you are frantically trying to make a deadline won’t be appreciated.

Drive is crucial as well.  Never look back only forward.  Learn from your mistakes and always strive to improve upon what you have done before.  Tweak your formulas, your flowcharts, your weekly meetings.  Follow the pocesses set before you but if you know you can make them better then why wouldn’t you?

And if obstacles hit your path then knock em down.  Oprah Winfrey grew up dirt poor.  Steve Jobs dropped out of uni, Richard Branson didn’t even go.  What made them some of the most successful people in their fields?  They were always out to prove the naysayers wrong.

Be appreciative.  Stick up for the little person-speak on someone’s behalf if you believe they wont stand up for themselves.  Take pride in your team too and if they do a cracking job let them know!  It’s always nice to get a little love and it feels just as good to give.  A simple pat on the back will only improve team morale and will help with the aforementioned drive for greatness.  Don’t be a drip about it or OVER complimentary.  No one likes a suck up.

Similarly, if you have a problem with something or someone, take your superior aside and let them know.  No one wants to be known as the resident whinger, nor the resident bitch.  Poking fun at those around you, or worse, feeding off the office gossip is counterproductive and just plain not nice.

So if you want your own Apple, Virgin Airways or multi-national talk-show one day take your role, and Make It Work!!

Chances are, those of you who have made contact with GXY Search have come across Fashion and Lifestyle consultant and downright bloody legend Miss Holly Archibald.

A Radelaide native, Hols left The Festival State in 2007 for the world’s most liveable city to further her career in recruitment and head-hunting in an intimate boutique agency.

Following high school, Holly attended the University of SA studying Social Sciences and Management focusing on business economics and Australian studies.

After years spent at a major Australian recruitment agency looking after the less exciting side of the biz- Global Resources, Digital Marketing Services, Digital Development, Marketing, Finance, IT-Hols was looking for a space she could foster real relationships in.

She says “I originally came to GXY to change out of the recruitment industry and fell in love with the place! I have dealt with large agencies where it is all about the numbers – and although they are important we are more about the relationships with our clients and candidates – I think we go above and beyond for the people we work with!”

A self-confessed fashion addict (“just look at my credit card!!”), Holly is the perfect fits the role of fashion and lifestyle recruiter to a tee!  Often found immersed in one of the many fashion mags she subscribes to, she favours a simple yet elegant black wardrobe.

When asked to pick a favourite label, Hols responded (somewhat horrified) “[That’s] like asking Angelina Jolie to name her favourite child… but a start- Acne, Rag & Bone, Life with Bird, Ksubi & J Brand for my jeans, D.Co for my boots!”

The fashion arena is an exciting area to be a part of right now and Holly is thoroughly enjoying the ever-changing face of the market.

“The Australian market is changing so much with the introduction of Zara Topshop (eds note: Have you SEEN the Mary Katrantzou x Topshop collection?!  AH.MAY.ZING), and the potential of other international brands. Australian retailers are starting to lift their game and we are seeing some big changes! With online shopping getting bigger and bigger it is time for retail to separate themselves from the rest of the pack!!”

Its easy to get a little Green With Envy (see what I did there?!) when it comes to Holly’s job, so we asked Miss Archibald if she had any final words of advice for those looking to crack into the field.

“The fashion industry is a great industry to be in – things are always changing but you need to be prepared to work hard – things don’t get handed to you on a plate!”

Seems like smart and stylish can go hand in hand…