Career Chinwags for the 21st Century with Catherine Cunningham

How to Feel Secure in your Career amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has left many of us feeling severely pressured due to the disruption it has had on our careers and lives. A report just released by ING Bank said that more than three million Australians are thinking about changing careers once the Corona Virus subsides and nearly 30% have considered learning new skills to insulate themselves from future economic upheaval, including those who actually still have jobs.

In Episode 6 of Managing your Career in the Corona Virus Season, Catherine covers 5 areas for you to consider to help you feel more secure in your career both now and once the coronavirus crisis has subsided.

The first tip she covers is look before you leap, and carefully consider what it is you want to do. Secondly, she talks through making sure you investigate the safety of potential job sectors. She then moves onto a discussion about right brain jobs, and whether these are worth considering. Next, it's how to minimise the pain of moving jobs and finally, if you decide to stay in your current role, how can you future proof yourself (from losing your job!).

5 Strategies to Win your First Job in a Global Recession

Younger workers typically have more trouble finding and maintaining employment in a recession. In the US during what Australians call the Global Financial Crisis, although the unemployment rate for all workers peaked at 10%, the rate for workers between 16 and 24 years old rose to 19.2%. Unfortunately due to the coronavirus crisis, many young Australians are now faced with a tough gig...of finding their first job during a global recession.

In Episode 5 of Managing your Career in the Corona Virus Season, Catherine offers 5 specific tips to help graduates win a GOOD first job as quickly and easily as possible amid a pandemic.

Tips to Zoom your Way to Video Interview Success

To be successful in a Video Interview you need to be both mentally and technically ready. If you’re new to Zoom/Skype or any other platform interviewers may use, it may be time to upskill!

In Episode 4 of Managing your Career in the Corona Virus Season, Catherine offers tips to help you sell yourself in a Video Interview. First, she covers the importance of treating the interview like a performance. She then delves into the technical side, with tips on lighting, IT and sound.

How to Win your Next Job with Job Search Networking - Part 2

When it comes to Job Search Networking, most people misunderstand how to use this wonderful tool to get a job. They think of sipping Champagne and schmoozing people at a function. But Job Search Networking is much more involved than this.

Those who do understand the strategy and who are brave enough to do it, will not only survive, they will also thrive in their career.

In Episode 3 of Managing your Career in the Corona Virus Season, Catherine delves further into how to use Job Search Networking to win a job, especially in a time of crisis. This follows on from Episode 2, where Catherine covers Part 1 of this topic.

This is a wonderful but very strict and specific approach so Catherine takes it slowly. First of all she talks you through how to contact your Secondary Contact and set up a meeting. Secondly, she covers in detail how to conduct this meeting and finally, the next steps after the meeting.

How to Win your Next Job with Job Search Networking - Part 1

Most people have heard of job search networking but they misunderstand how to use networking to get a job. They think of sipping Champagne and schmoozing people at a function. Or they ask their contacts if they know anyone who needs someone like them. Neither of these approaches works well.  

There is actually a very specific approach to job search networking. It will require a considerable amount of time and effort...BUT...the rewards will be worth it, especially if you target a specific sector/industry...or even job!

In Episode 2 of the Managing your Career in the Corona Virus Season, Catherine will outline how to use Job Search Networking to pick up a job, especially in a time of crisis. There are 2 parts to this topic, and in this first part, Catherine covers the oh-so important topic of how to set up a meeting with your primary contact. She provides many examples, scripts and true stories to help you along the way.

Career Survival Tips During the Coronavirus Crisis

One of my friends works in the theatre and she sees no hope of returning to that world even after the initial coronavirus crisis passes. She needs a job.

Another client came to me last year because he wasn’t enjoying work anymore. If I was talking to him now, I’d be talking to him about how to reinvigorate his job in case he just has to stay put.

What about you? Are you looking for work? Unhappy at work? Not sure of how to manage your career during this crisis? Or even whether your career will survive?

Managing your career has become a lot more difficult and complicated. Pre Covd-19, if you didn’t like your job, you just left. And what about trying to get a new job when you’re competing against so many others?

In Episode 1 of the Managing your Career in the Corona Virus Season, Catherine covers 2 critical areas. First, she will outline how to revive your love affair with your current job, if you’re decidedly over it. Then, she talks to you about exactly WHICH ducks you need to get in a row to win that next job.