The CV Blog

Do the Best Jobs Require You to Be an Extrovert?

Written by guest blogger, Andrej Kovacevic

Social interaction, to some degree, is a requirement of every job. Even if your chosen career involves significant amounts of computation, you’ll still most likely have to be able to explain your work to your boss and colleagues. This requires you to have at least some level of communication skills.

The more advanced your communication skills are, the likelier you are to succeed in your career. Being a persuasive communicator can dramatically escalate your career, whether you’re a data scientist, an engineer, or a worker in virtually any other role.

This might prompt you to wonder: Do the best jobs require you to be an extrovert? And, in fact, do you have to be an extrovert if you hope to be successful?

The answer to both questions is “no”.

It is true that, until recently, in many ways, western workplace culture has seemed to favour extroverts over introverts. Extroverts have had a tendency to earn higher salaries, because they have been more frequently entrusted with high-paying jobs that require management expertise or top-level communication skills. Introverts may have been at a disadvantage when seeking such lucrative jobs, because so many of the best-paying jobs have been ones that require “people skills”.

But introverts are just as likely to be successful as extroverts are in the years ahead.

Changing Dynamics As the Fourth Industrial Revolution Proceeds

 A dramatic change in dynamics is underway as we embark on the fourth industrial revolution. This is because a different set of skills is emerging that will be more critical for the future of work – and for the workers of the future — than it has ever been in the past.

The up-and-coming skill set is one that doesn’t exclude introverts and is, in fact, likely to reward them. Some of these skills include creativity, innovation, persistence, empathy for others and the ability to listen to others. These skills don’t tend to favour either extroverts or introverts; they are skills that all people have the potential to master.

In fact, they are some of the traits that make human beings human. These characteristics distinguish us from the robots and algorithms that are increasingly taking over tasks that humans used to perform.

As we embrace the future, the differences between introverts and extraverts may become less important at work. This is because, in the future, both groups of people will need to work on perfecting the humanistic skills that distinguish them from various forms of technology. These “soft skills” are becoming increasingly crucial for human workers because they give people a distinct advantage over their likeliest future competitors: robots.

Jobs for humans, whether extroverted or introverted, are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Some analysts have proposed that, in the future, many of the jobs that are currently done by humans will be performed by artificial intelligence or other forms of technology.

We can already see this happening. For example, as accounting software becomes more sophisticated and automated, more business owners are able to handle their own accounting. This is likely to translate to fewer well-paying opportunities for bookkeepers in the future.

If you hope to remain among the employed far into the future, at some point you will probably have to demonstrate to your employer why you are more valuable to your organisation than a machine would be. If you’re able to be persistent, creative and innovative; if you’re able to listen empathetically and work as part of a team; and, overall, if you demonstrate capabilities that algorithms and robots couldn’t possibly replicate, you will be much better positioned to remain employed in the future. That holds true whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert or somewhere in between.

Career Vitality provides individual and group career coaching services to support clients to plan and achieve their career goals. Email Judith at judith@careervitality.com.au to help work out your next career steps.

Brisbane’s Top 4 Fast-Growing Industries

Written by guest blogger, Andrej Kovacevic

Brisbane, Australia is currently enjoying growth and a hot job market. Employment growth in Brisbane is far outpacing population growth; and, in fact, Brisbane’s job market is growing faster than the job markets in either Sydney or Melbourne. In particular, The Australian reports that Brisbane Inner City and South Brisbane have been two of Australia’s top fastest-growing job markets thus far in the twenty-first century.

So which industries in Brisbane look the most promising for career changers and job seekers to seek work in? Let’s discuss 4 of the top fast-growing industries in Brisbane, Australia.

1. Healthcare and Social Assistance

Experts in the Australian government are forecasting increasing numbers of job opportunities for Brisbane residents in the healthcare sector through at least the year 2022. In particular, the following sectors are experiencing significant levels of growth:

  • Nursing and aged care
  • Physiotherapy
  • Dental services
  • Psychology and counselling

Many, but not all, of these roles require university degrees.

2. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

Demand for high-tech products and services is skyrocketing across the globe – and businesses in Brisbane are eager to share their relevant offerings with the global marketplace. Tech startups in Brisbane are providing the world with a broad range of offerings ranging from software to mobile applications to energy solutions. They’re hiring for an impressive array of different job titles. Demand is high for the talent in the following types of roles:

  • Data Scientists
  • Software Developers
  • IT Project Managers

A bachelor’s degree is beneficial if you want to be competitive for many, but not all, of the best jobs in this sector.

3. Education and Training

It will be vital for job seekers to have cutting-edge skills if they hope to succeed in the technologically developed job market of the future. This means that education and training are in demand, and they’ll continue to be in demand for the foreseeable future. In particular, demand will be high for the following types of educators:

  •  Education Managers
  • Education Advisers and Reviewers
  • Education Aides

Education is prized in this industry. Many roles tend to require applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. For some positions, graduate level education is also a requirement.

4. Construction

In the recent past, some elements of the construction and engineering industries in Queensland have been in decline. However, experts at the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) are forecasting that construction industry growth in Queensland is likely to resume again in 2020 at a rate of 5.6 percent.

The growth is likely to be balanced between public and private engineering and construction projects. There are a number of civil construction projects planned for the future in Brisbane.  Experts are also forecasting that demand for dwellings in Brisbane, and, indeed throughout Queensland, will outpace supply. They’re predicting this excess demand for housing will grow until at least the year 2028.

In the construction industry, government analysts at the Department of Jobs and Small Business are predicting moderate to strong growth for a number of different roles. Some of the jobs offering strong growth potential include the following:

  • Construction Managers
  • Civil Engineering Professionals
  • Structural Steel Construction Workers
  • Plumbers
  • Glaziers
  • Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians

TAFE training is sufficient to prepare you well for many of the jobs in this sector. However, some of these roles do require a university degree.

These are four of the top fast-growing industries in Brisbane, Australia. So if you are thinking of changing careers, these growing industries, including that roles that support these industries, will be an excellent focus for your efforts. Do be aware there are some industries in Brisbane that are not currently experiencing growth; a couple of the industries that have been experienced decline are manufacturing and agriculture. Serious consideration needs to be given to investing significant amounts of effort pursuing work in the industries that are declining.

Best wishes for your next career transition.

This article was kindly submitted by guest blogger Andrej Kovacevic.

Career Vitality provides individual and group career coaching services to support clients to plan and achieve their career goals. Email Judith at judith@careervitality.com.au to help you to work out your next career steps.

7 Secrets to Success in the Gig Economy

As a career coach I regularly talk to clients about the idea of starting a side hustle (an income producing activity on the side of our primary role) to explore new career paths or to create a portfolio career (one in which we have multiple career roles simultaneously). Whether you are aiming for the portfolio career or are currently looking for a new role with flexibility, it can be a great option to look at the gig economy. Lucy from Gigmine has kindly shared her knowledge on this topic with us. Over to Lucy …

Getting started in the gig economy has never been easier. There are tons of freelance jobs for those looking to begin their own business. If you want to enjoy the flexibility and added income of your own gig, begin by following these seven important steps.

 Find Something Fun

 One of the perks of the gig economy is that you can get paid to do just about anything. If you have a way with words, you can write freelance articles. You can get paid to drive people around town. Some people even get paid to hang out with puppies! Dog walking and pet sitting can provide you with endless nose boops and quite a bit of income, too.

 Do Some Serious Budgeting

 If you’re going to break out on your own, you need to have a solid budget worked out. Gig jobs don’t always provide a regular stream of income. You may have 20 clients one month and five the next, so it’s crucial to be careful with your finances. Lay your budget out in writing. Include housing, bills, and groceries in your core number. Be sure to budget for entertainment and extras as well.

 Stay on Top of Your Schedule

 When you’re juggling multiple clients, it can be easy to get your appointments mixed up. Make sure that doesn’t happen by working on your time management skills. Keep a calendar at home and stash a smaller one in your car or bag, to keep track of business on the go. You can also use a task management app to keep you on course. Be sure to schedule some time for marketing and social media, to get your gig business connected with new clients.

 Be Prepared to Network

Starting a new successful gig  means building a solid client base. You can definitely turn to your network of family and friends, but you’ll need to put in a little more work to sustain your new business. Get out in your town and talk to people about your business. Leave business cards and put up flyers in local shops and spend some time working on your social media and web presence. Online portfolios can snag you more clients and give people an easier way to contact you.

 Pay Your Taxes 

The one area where gig workers tend to get lost is their taxes. Without an employer taking taxes out of your salary, it can be easy to let this little detail slip your mind. To avoid ending up with a big surprise come July, check in with your accountant or the ATO to see what to expect. You may need to pay your taxes in installments throughout the year and could even end up with a refund.

Get Those Positive Reviews 

 Whether your working from an app or on your own, user reviews can make or break your gig business. People are so dependent on reviews these days that it’s hard to have a gig business without them. Encourage your clients to leave their feedback for you. If someone has an issue, take care of it right away to keep those five-star reviews coming.

Always Schedule Downtime

 Being your own boss can give you a big confidence boost, but it also means you may be busier than before. You’ll have to put in some time to build your gig business but don’t let it take over your life. Leave some time in your schedule to relax and take it easy. When you reach your goals, treat yourself to a massage or nice meal out. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself from feeling burned out.

Gigs are a great way to earn income, try something different in your career and to build your own work schedule. If you think the gig economy is right for you, a little planning can make your career change come true. So get out there and make it happen!

 Photo Credit: Pixabay

Has your interview been hijacked before? How to take control next time around.

One of my current interview coaching clients, Ms R, told me this week about the recent interview that smashed her confidence and left her feeling terrified of the next one. As you’ll appreciate, a fear of interviews can be a major obstacle to job search so it’s fortunate that she reached out for some help and is getting back on track.

Ms R’s interview was stressful from the get go. At the scheduled time she was ushered into a room and given six complex questions with 10 minutes to prepare. Panic set in immediately. Her body stiffened and she felt like her mind was in shutdown, rather rising to the task at hand. In fact it was. With our fight or flight response triggered, it is difficult for us to access our higher order brain functions to rationally navigate the situation. The great thing is cognitive behavioural therapy tells us that by tackling our beliefs and thoughts, it is possible to create more effective responses to avoid the panic.

Appropriately preparing yourself before the interview can make a huge difference to your experience. Remember that getting shortlisted means that they already think you’re a solid fit for the role. Take in the mindset that interviews are simply an opportunity to communicate what the interviewer(s) needs to know to confirm your fit for the role. Be in touch with what you offer, take your achievement examples in with you if you can and recognise the need to remain calm so they get an opportunity to see the best of you.

Once Ms R was taken into the interview room, it went from bad to worse. She felt highly anxious and the panel not introducing themselves definitely didn’t help. One panel member was a psychiatrist and she noticed him writing notes on his pad. She immediately thought “He’s judging me, I can see he doesn’t like me” and it threw her further off course.

So what could Ms R have thought instead and how might it have changed the experience? That interviewer certainly was judging her but most likely on her fit for the role. She might have thought “I’m glad he’s so interested in noting what I’ve got to say today” or “I’ll take a moment to become really present by feeling my feet on the floor, rather than imagining what the interviewers are thinking”. These responses are likely to have a much more positive effect on our mindset and subsequent actions.

One of my key takeaways from Russ Harris’ Happiness Trap book was to question our thoughts, eg. “Is this thought helpful?”, “Is this thought going to take me to where I want to go?” You don’t even need to think about whether they’re true or not. While it takes some practice, it is totally possible to not buy into such thoughts and to replace them with others that are more helpful.

Unfortunately, not all interviewers set candidates up for success, however, there is often an opportunity for us to influence the experience and increase the likelihood that we will present the best of what we have to offer. While you might not want to work with a company like the one in this story, you’ll definitely will want to preserve your confidence for interviews.

If you want to shine at your next interview, consider a coaching session with Career Vitality.

The Green Rush. Why pay attention to this emerging industry?

A few days ago I heard something so exciting for our economy that I’ve felt compelled to write about it since. My partner asked me to watch an episode of ‘4 Corners’ that he’d recorded last week called ‘Green Rush’. We recently purchased a small number of shares in two medicinal marijuana companies and he thought it would give me some understanding of what is going on with the industry.

As I watched, rather than thinking about share values, I started to appreciate the possible impact of the medicinal marijuana industry for the Australian agricultural and pharmaceutical industries and our general economy. I couldn’t help thinking that this emerging industry may very well be the answer to many of the challenges Australia faces.

As a career coach, one of the approaches we encourage clients to consider is looking for emerging opportunities or occupations based on strategies such as research, gathering intelligence from our networks, attending conferences, reviewing media reports etc. Medicinal marijuana seems a perfect enactment of this strategy on a macro scale.

The ‘4 Corners’ episode explained that medicinal marijuana has been identified as a possible treatment for a range of medical conditions including epilepsy, insomnia, autism and chronic pain. There have been some promising overseas clinical trials and some Australian states are currently running clinical trials. The Federal Government approved the prescription of Australian-grown/manufactured medicinal marijuana in 2016 but it hasn’t been smooth sailing for patients. They have faced many barriers although the government has been working to reduce these, with some recent success.

When ‘4 Corners’ reported that the Federal Government had recently approved Australia exporting medicinal marijuana products I actually said out loud, “This could be the smartest thing the Australian Government has ever done.” Demand for the product is building, with consistently more and more countries considering or approving medicinal marijuana, and we have masses of land with ideal growing conditions, creating excellent circumstances to embrace this opportunity.

The medicinal marijuana pharmaceutical market is likely to present a lucrative export and domestic opportunity for the Australian economy, particularly given the reported shortages of medicinal marijuana worldwide. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, “By opening up the export market the government is hoping to improve the viability of domestic producers, thus securing supply for Australian patients”.

Let’s imagine for a moment that we can become the world’s leading producer of medicinal marijuana. That could reinvigorate our declining agriculture industry and generate significant revenue to invest into science, research, exploring additional new industries, skilling Australians for the future and providing support to members of our society in need. All potentially equating to additional job growth and worthy of our attention. As a career coach, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing where it goes from here.

If you haven’t already watched it, I’d encourage you to take a look at the 4 Corners Green Rush episode and share it with others in your networks.

Why losing his job made him a winner

Dean and Career Coach Donna

Recently I caught up with past client, Dean. I was Dean’s career transition coach when his previous employer made his credit management position redundant back in 2014. At the time Dean and his wife had a new baby and he was the primary breadwinner. Needless to say it was a little scary for Dean to have unexpectedly found himself unemployed.

As I’ve since learnt is Dean’s style, he eagerly embraced the career transition process. He incorporated the new knowledge I shared about planning for job search, writing a highly effective resume and standing out at interview. He approached the consultations enthusiastically and delivered on what he committed to. Unsurprisingly, within a relatively short time he secured a new role. First in a start-up before moving on to another role after six months. Dean says that the achievement-based resume he’d developed during the coaching process clearly stood out and gave him the confidence he needed to move on easily to future roles.

A couple of years down the track, and with twins added to the family, Dean received a life changing call. Long time mate, Justin, had just registered his new credit management company and wanted Dean to join the team. Dean jumped at the opportunity to be involved in creating this new business and knew that he’d be able to contribute many of the skills he’d developed since redundancy.

Initially Credit Solutions’ Queensland branch operated from Justin’s home office but a few months in they opened an office at North Lakes in Brisbane and employed their first team member. Now, less than a year later, they employee over 20 staff and one of their trainees has been nominated for Queensland Trainee of the Year. The day before we met up Dean’s team helped him celebrate his one year of service, awarding him a Certificate of Excellence as a Team Leader.

Dean has hit his career stride. He’s working to his strengths and doing what he loves. What fulfils him most is watching their staff grow and helping them to reach their potential. Justin and Dean work on the floor with the team. There’s no fancy corner offices, simply a work culture that strongly values people. Their staff turnover, at practically zero, clearly defies the industry average of around 50%.

Credit Solutions goes from strength to strength, extending their services to include multiple offices of a law firm this year. With so much growth, the future for Dean and the team is looking bright.

Today Dean loves his role, team, conditions and the company and its values. In fact, he has never been happier at work, something he definitely did not foresee when unemployed back in 2014.

Do you love your work or is it time you considered working with a career coach? Call Judith on 0400 739 919 to work with a Brisbane career coach or visit the Career Development Association of Australia to find a practitioner near you.

Could entrepreneurship be your answer?

career advice brisbane

Most of us have been led to believe the path we must take involves going to school to learn knowledge and skills then starting work for someone else. Whether it’s a large company or a small one, typically we are plan to become an employee.

What if there is another path we could be considering? What if the traditional path your mother and father took just isn’t appealing to you? What if you love the idea of working for yourself? Today’s global landscape, and the rise of the internet, has made entrepreneurship more feasible than ever.

Here’s three things we think you could reflect upon to work out whether you’re a good fit for being your own boss.

Personality Fit

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone and if your personality is one that is resistant to change and ambiguity, it may cause you to be very unhappy. Consider if you are ok with some risk, if you enjoy working hard and finding solutions, and if you are comfortable working on your own.

While no job is guaranteed and can be outsourced at anytime in today’s market, you are really relying on yourself when you are an entrepreneur. It can put you in some pretty stressful situations, so you need to be honest with yourself about whether or not you are prepared to deal with that.

A business idea

In order to become an entrepreneur, you need to have a focus for the business. No idea yet? Check out these 20 ideas from Australian Anthill for some inspiration.

If you have an idea already, have you thoroughly researched it? What’s happening in the industry? Who are your competitors and how are you different?

How much capital do you need to get your business going? Where will you find that money? Before jumping into working for yourself, make sure you have considered all the different angles. A good idea is to bounce your idea off someone who isn’t close to you. A life coach or a career counselor can be a great third party to ask you the right questions and give you honest feedback on your idea. Then you can take that feedback and adjust your idea accordingly.

Write a Business Plan

If you are seeking investment into your company you will likely need to provide investors with a detailed business plan.

Even if you don’t need additional funds for your business, mapping your plan out in a business plan is a great way to get specific with your idea and plans to make it successful. For a free template, try the Australian Government’s business.gov.au offerings as a starting point.

If you feel like running your own business would be exciting and fulfilling, give it a shot! Once you have a plan, put it into action. Connect with others doing what you’re doing. Consider a Chamber of Commerce or business networking group for support and professional development.

If you are currently working for someone else you could even try it out as a side business before making a full leap. The corporate world will still be an option if you decide entrepreneurship isn’t for you afterall. But the only way to find out for sure is to try.

Career Vitality won the Hills & Districts Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2016 and would be very happy to share the experiences with you on 0400 739 919 or judith@careervitality.com.au if you’re keen to explore this pathway.

How to Rock 2018

Recently I ran our goal setting workshop for the second time. The workshop went really well last year but best of all many of the attendees contacted me throughout the year to share that they had achieved all of their goals. Although I absolutely know this stuff works, it is still a massive thrill to hear when it’s been instrumental in changing others’ lives.

Given that this is an annual workshop (look out for it in January 2019), I thought I’d share the process with you because there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t start at any time and we now have some beautiful DIY templates that you can download to have your list also looking fantastic when you put it up at home.

Here are the five simple steps to get you on your way to your best year ever:

  1. Position yourself somewhere you enjoy hanging out. Then, download your favourite goal setting template below this article.
  2. Start your reflection … Imagine us meeting up in 12 months time. You tell me you have had your best year ever. Think about what has happened. What can you see? What can you hear? Who is with you? How does it feel? Dream big because that’s when you get the greatest benefits!
  3. Write down the five or six key outcomes that would create this amazing year for you. It can be useful to write them as though they’re already here, eg. If you plan to buy an investment property you might write “We own an investment property which is contributing to our family wealth”. If it’s say a car you want you might say “I am driving my beautiful new car”. Write these items in the left column of the template (either ours or one of your own).
  4. Find an image that will remind you of your goal. Say it’s the car, look for a picture that is the exact model and colour that you want. For me it’s a Mazda CX5 and it’s so coming this year!! Place the image in the right column. (Googling images can be a great idea because you can resize them for the template but magazines can also be a cool way to find them.)
  5. Place your goal list somewhere you will see it regularly, or where it will at least see you. Many people put it on their refrigerator and mine is by my desk looking over me as I go about my work day.

This exercise is underpinned by manifestation, tapping into the law of attraction. I cannot tell you exactly how it works but I can definitely tell you that it has worked for me and many of my friends and clients. Here’s a few tips for increasing the likelihood that it will also work for you:

  • Believe that it is possible, as Louise Hay says, “You’ll see it when you believe it”.
  • Commit to a personal growth practice … eg. believing you are worth it, appreciating all of the awesome things you already have in your life, helping others, meditation, exploring your gifts, and pursuing your life purpose all seem to have a positive impact.
  • Consider affirmations and/or visualising your goals. One friend manifested $15K+ after repeating “I am open to receiving large sums of money coming from unexpected sources” over and over each day, whilst I meditate daily visualising my goals achieved.
  • Be open to how your goal might be achieved. If we are steadfastly committed to a plan for how it will happen there’s a risk of being blind to alternative, sometimes easier, ways for the goal to occur. Have a plan if you want one, but please be flexible.

We would love to hear how you go with the process so drop us a line at judith@careervitality.com.au to share your experiences or to ask any questions you might have. We can also provide a template in Word format in case you want to type diretly into it.

Wishing you your best year yet!

Simple steps to finding a job you’ll love

career coach Brisbane

Finding a job you love and are good at is a common goal. Some may even feel it is some unattainable dream. It doesn’t have to be a fantasy, you can do something you enjoy for a living and excel at it.

To do this you need to identify what your strengths, skills, and passions are. Once you know where your strengths are you can use that information to find a career that allows you to thrive.

Strengths and Passions

There are many ways to find out where your strengths lie and what gets you excited. You could simply make a list of things people tell you that you are good at to start your strengths list. Then take that list and ask friends, or coworkers if you have them, what they would add to it. In terms of passions, try thinking of what you love to do at work and in your spare time. Don’t worry about whether or not it could be something you can do as a career at this point.

Another option is taking a personality test to help you see where your personality lies. These tests ask a series of questions and has you rank your agreement or disagreement to each. 16 Personalities is one of my favorite free versions of the popular Myers-Briggs assessment. Once you take the quiz the site gives you a very detailed insight into your personality.

Connecting with a career counselor to help you to identify your strengths and passions can also be a great idea. It can be hard for us to work out what we are good at and enlisting the help of a professional can be very insightful.

Applying it to a Career

 Once you’ve worked out what you are good at and what keeps you engaged and excited, what do you do with that information? If you have found that what you enjoy doing is completely unrelated to what your current profession is, brainstorm some ways you can move into the field you would be more passionate about. What skills or certifications would you need to gain? Is there a way you can start out as a side gig or volunteer to gain the experience you need?

If you took a personality test, there are tons of ways to see career options based on your personality type. Business Insider has a great infographic showing popular career options based on the Myers-Briggs assessment. You will have to do some internal reflection to see which role types align with your passions for the best outcome.

With such a big decision, talking to someone about what you are thinking is a great option. This can be family and friends or a professional career coach. Take in their advice but remember to choose based on what you are truly feeling. We spend the majority of our day at work, so why not make your career something you are great at and love to do!

At Career Vitality, we specialise in helping people find a job they’ll love. Call Judith today on 0400 739 919 if you’d like a chat about your career.

Loving your career? Take stock for the new year.

2017 is coming to an end and it’s a great time for reflection. One of the biggest areas in our lives we review is our careers. Are we happy and fulfilled with where we currently are? Or is it dreadful just thinking about returning after the holidays? To help you take inventory on how you are feeling, try these tips.

Nature of Role

The first thing you should consider is if you like what you are doing. Make a list of everything you like and everything you dislike with your current job. For this step, focus on tasks only. If you find that your dislike column is much longer than your like column, it may be time to contact a career counsellor!

We can get so ingrained with day to day work that we may not even realise that we don’t like what we are doing. Identify what you can do to change this. Maybe it’s that you can look for new projects to get involved in or delegate certain tasks? Other times you may need to look for a change in role to get excited again.

Pay

Compensation is extremely important and a big focus are you should look at in your reflection. Are you being compensated fairly for the work you are doing? Unfortunately, if you have been with the same company for a few years, you could be below market value for your role.

Do you feel like you are ready to take the next step in your career to reach the next pay level? Perhaps 2018 is the year you take your salary to the next income level. Decide what is right for you.

Environment

Sometimes pay and what you do is great, but you are still unhappy. In this case, consider your work environment. Do you have the autonomy you desire in your role? Are your opinions valued? Do you have a boss you respect and get along with? Environment play a huge factor in overall job satisfaction.

Work life Balance

We spend a ton of time at work, but do you have the ability to work a flexible schedule when needed? Does your boss or company allow the ability work from home from time to time? When unexpected life events come up, do you get support from your company?

Are you expected to answer emails and calls while you are away from the office? We need the ability to turn off our connection to the office from time to time, so having a mismatch on work life balance can really be an issue.

Taking time to think about where you are in your career is helpful to keep you moving in the right direction. Many times people can pinpoint what is wrong, but are not sure how to alter their situation. If you are in need of some expertise in this area, enlist the help of a career coach in Brisbane or by phone or Skype. Plan to make changes in 2018 to get yourself on the track to a career you are excited about!