Stuart McKenzie

Skills for the future of work

The skills-based organisation is coming. Is your company prepared?The workplace is rapidly changing, and one of the most significant drivers of this change is technology. From factory floors to office cubicles, machines are taking over many tasks humans once did. While this shift has undoubtedly brought benefits in terms of efficiency and productivity, it has also raised concerns about the future of work. How has this affected valued skill sets? We have experienced a shift away from skills like active listening and rapid data consumption and towards things technology cannot provide, like emotional intelligence and creativity. Social skills like analytical skills, emotional intelligence, and active creativity will be in higher demand than technical skills, such as programming or equipment operation and control. While technical skills will continue to lay the foundation for a more substantial career, you must supplement specialised capabilities with socially solid, creative, and collaboration skills to achieve career longevity and fulfilment. In this blog, we will explore these key social skills needed for the sustainability of your organisation in the evergoing shift of technology and will delve deeper into how to identify these skills in potential candidates.​​​​Analytical ThinkingIn our complex, rapidly changing world, analytical thinking has emerged as a fundamental requirement for navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital era. Since 2016, the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs report has consistently underscored the importance of analytical thinking, placing it at the top of essential skills for the future workplace. Analytical thinking is considered to be a core skill by more companies than any other skill, making up, on average, 9.1% of the core skills reported by companies. Analytical thinking is the ability to break down intricate problems into more manageable components, systematically examine each part, and draw well-founded conclusions based on the analysis. This capacity is pivotal in problem-solving, decision-making, and planning, which are fundamental functions within any organisation, irrespective of its industry or scale. By applying analytical thinking, individuals can navigate complexity, identify patterns, and generate valuable insights that drive effective solutions and strategic actions.The significance of analytical thinking is being amplified by the transformative shifts occurring in our work landscape. With automation and AI adoption reshaping job roles and rendering routine tasks obsolete, the value of skills that machines cannot replicate, such as analytical skills, is more critical than ever. Every position requires analytical skills. For some roles (Investment banker), methodical thinking is critical, while brainstorming abilities are more, brainstorming abilities are Strategist. Regardless of how they approach problems, employees with sharp analytical skills can connect the dots and develop solutions confidently.Example of analytical skill interview questions: Describe a situation where you were required to analyse a large dataset to uncover trends or patterns. How did you approach the analysis, and what were your key findings?This question allows candidates to showcase their experience working with large datasets and their ability to identify meaningful insights through data analysis.Can you provide an example of a problem you solved using data-driven decision-making? How did you collect and analyse the data, and what was the outcome of your decision?By asking this question, you can evaluate candidates' candidates in using data to drive decision-making and assess the impact of their data-driven solutions.Share an experience where you had to present complex data findings to a non-technical audience. How did you ensure that your message was clear and easily understood?This question assesses candidates' skills and ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise.Describe a situation where you had to analyse customer data to identify opportunities for improving customer satisfaction or loyalty. How did you approach the analysis, and what actions did you recommend based on your findings?This question allows candidates to demonstrate their ability to analyse customer data and derive insights that contribute to enhancing the overall customer experience.Give an example of when you leveraged data analysis to optimise a process or improve operational efficiency. What steps did you take, and what were the outcomes of your efforts?Candidates can showcase their problem-solving skills and ability to use data analysis to drive process improvements and achieve tangible outcomes.Share an experience where you used data analysis to identify cost-saving opportunities or optimise resource allocation. How did your analysis contribute to cost reduction or resource optimisation?This question enables candidates to demonstrate their ability to identify areas of cost inefficiency and showcase their data-driven approach to optimising resource allocation.By incorporating these strategic interview questions into your hiring process, you can effectively assess candidates' dcandidates's skills and identify individuals with the analytical thinking required to make data-driven decisions.Creativity and Innovation: "Creativity has become a superpower and the digitial age is, more than ever, a human age" Craig Fenton, Director, Strategy & Operations, GoogleAccording to the World Economic Forum, "Creative thinking will be the most important skill within companies in 2025" as AI, automation and digitalisation become more and more important to business.That might seem like a paradox, especially if you've heard reports that these new technologies are making many creatives redundant. But actually, it makes perfect sense.Because the areas of creative work that this new tech is replacing are primarily the mundane, boring stuff. For instance, we no longer need designers to spend hours painstakingly removing an object from an image in Photoshop because Photoshop can now do all that automatically at the touch of a button.However, it's truly creative thinking that even the most advanced AI still doesn't come close to; only humans can provide that. So, with the ever-expanding AI industry and the larger tech world, the future of the workplace will require a massive influx of fresh creative minds over the coming years.Fostering Innovation: Employees with creative thinking skills embracing new ideas, approaches, and technologies, which allows companies to differentiate themselves from their competitors, develop new products and services, and create value for their customers.At the heart of creativity and innovation is the ability to think differently and challenge the status quo. This means questioning assumptions, taking calculated risks, and exploring new possibilities. It also means being open to new ideas and perspectives, and being willing to experiment and learn from failure.Ensuring your workforce has a talent pool of creative thinking employees will ensure that you can adapt to changing market conditions and stay ahead of the curve. These employees embrace new technologies and trends, facilitating companies to develop new products and services that meet the evolving needs of their customers. They can also identify new markets and opportunities, and develop innovative business models that create value for their stakeholders.To differentiate your product or brand: For a successful business, it’s all about differentiation. How do you differentiate your product or brand from the multiple stakeholders crowding your segment? With the consumer getting so many choices and options, differentiation has become increasingly challenging.Thus, you require creativity to differentiate your product or brand.Creativity becomes even more crucial for differentiation in segments where there is no objective criterion for evaluating the quality of a product or service.You might again argue that this kind of differentiation is done at the managerial level. But if you look at successful businesses, it’s never the top-down approach. In the business model of the future, all employees feel they have a certain level of autonomy and stake in the organization and are encouraged to take independent decisions regarding their work. Companies are rather employees to become entrepreneurs by conceptualising new projects and taking charge from the start to finish.For business growthUltimately, creativity is a prerequisite for the growth of any business.No business achieved growth by staying stuck in the same predictable mold for years and years.You come up with new ideas, do hit and trial, take risks, and sometimes you fail and sometimes excel.But you need to be creative to come up with new ideas and take risks. The ability to take risks is an essential component of creativity. You won’t become an industry leader by running the same kind of sweet shop chains for years and years. But, you would become an industry leader by innovating your manufacturing processes, by creating some new kind of distinctive fusion sweets, or by creating a unique customer experience not offered by any other business from your niche.That is creativity — the ability to do maximum innovation even despite resource constraints.Examples of questions you can ask during the interview process that will effectively gauge a candidate's creativity skills: "Can you describe a situation where you took an existing idea and improved upon it?"A strong answer:It would demonstrate the candidate's ability to think creatively and generate innovative solutions to improve existing ideas. A firm answer might describe a situation in which the candidate identified an opportunity to enhance an existing idea or approach and used their creative thinking skills to develop a new and improved version. The candidate might also describe any challenges or obstacles faced during the improvement process and how they overcame them. A firm answer would demonstrate the candidate's ability to effectively apply creative thinking skills in real-world situations, leading to positive outcomes.A weak answer:This indicates a lack of creativity or an inability to generate new ideas that lead to successful outcomes. A weak answer might describe a situation in which the candidate needed to identify opportunities for improvement or rely on conventional approaches to improve the existing idea. The candidate may have failed to effectively implement their improvements or address any challenges or obstacles encountered during the process.Probing questions1. How did you identify the need to improve the existing idea, and what factors influenced your decision-making process?2. Can you describe any challenges or obstacles you faced while improving the idea and how you overcame them?3. Can you explain how your improvements to the idea contributed to the overall success of the project or task?​Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage one's emotions and the emotions of others. Knowing how you'd feel in a particular situation helps you gauge how others think in a similar environment, thus enabling favourable social interactions and evoking favourable reactions from others.The business case for emotional intelligenceRising rates of loneliness, depression, and mental health concerns represent an opportunity for companies and leaders to embrace emotional intelligence to reengage people at work and in life.According to Google's famous Project Aristotle initiative, a high-performing team needs three things:A strong awareness of the importance of social connections or "social sensitivity."An environment where each person speaks equally.Psychological safety is where everyone feels safe to show and employ themselves without fear of negative consequences.It takes an emotionally intelligent leader to harness these three elements of a successful team.When these three items are present in a team or organisation, people feel cared for. People who feel cared for are more loyal, engaged, and productive.Employees who feel cared for by their organisation are…They are times more likely to recommend their company as a great workplace.Nine times more likely to stay at their company for three or more years.Seven times more likely to feel included at work.Four times less likely to suffer from stress and burnout.Two times as likely to be engaged at work.Technology will enhance humanityAs the world fills with more sophisticated technologies like AI and 5G, human skills like compassion and empathy will define the competitive edge of workers and organisations. In addition, as the world becomes more high-tech, there will be a desire and opportunity for a more high-touch approach. As technology advances, it will take on a lot of the world that humans are not good at, don't like, or find dangerous. This will leave us more time and capacity to show up emotionally for each other. For example, in the recruitment industry, as technology advances and automation and AI systems are implemented into the hiring process, the workload and admin tasks will decrease, allowing additional time for consultants and hiring managers to communicate and form relationships with candidates. How to identify emotional intelligence in the interview stage: They can speak about failures gracefully: No one wants to talk about their shortcomings in a job interview. However, emotionally intelligent people can separate their feelings of regret or embarrassment from a poor experience and learn from it. If candidates speak confidently about a time they fell short and can discuss how it helped them in the long run, they are most likely emotionally intelligent. They will include other teammates in their stories: A candidate with high emotional intelligence will likely mention collaboration and contributions from colleagues when discussing success. They will know that success does not exist in a vacuum and that acknowledging this does not make them less impressive. This shows security, confidence, and awareness that others thrive on praise. They will ask about experiences: A candidate with high emotional intelligence will not only ask insightful questions about the role and the company, but they will also ask questions about you and your experiences. They may ask how you deal with stress from the job, how you got to this point in your career, ect. Emotionally intelligent people are empathetic and naturally curious about those they meet. This will more certainly come through in your interview, CONCLUSION

Mastering the Art of Resume Assessment: Expert Tips for Effective Candidate Evaluation

Have you ever felt overwhelmed while sifting through a stack of resumes? You're not alone. A recent study reveals that nearly 89% of Australian employers encounter difficulties in securing top talent, with 30% attributing this to ineffective resume screening. In today's competitive job market, relying solely on resumes can be like reading a book by its cover—you might miss out on some genuinely great candidates.At AustCorp Executive, we understand the challenges you face. That's why we've crafted this comprehensive guide to help you master the art of resume assessment. From identifying critical skills and experiences to leveraging technology and avoiding common pitfalls, we'll walk you through the process. By the end of this blog, you'll have the tools and knowledge to streamline your hiring process and find the perfect fit for your organisation.Ready to revolutionise the way you evaluate resumes? Let's dive in and uncover the secrets to practical candidate evaluation.The Importance of Holistic Candidate EvaluationRelying solely on a candidate's resume can sometimes feel like trying to solve a puzzle with only half the pieces. While resumes provide a snapshot of a candidate's professional journey, they often miss the nuances that make someone the perfect fit for your team. That's where holistic candidate evaluation comes in—a strategy considering the whole person, not just their paper qualifications.Traditional resume screening focuses heavily on hard skills, education, and work experience. However, this approach must focus on critical soft skills, cultural fit, and growth potential. By incorporating elements such as soft skills, cultural fit, and potential for growth into your evaluation process, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of each candidate. This helps make better hiring decisions, reduces turnover rates, and fosters a more cohesive work environment.​Incorporating a Holistic Approach into Your Hiring Process - Understand the Full PictureA resume provides a snapshot of a candidate's professional journey but only captures part of the story. To get a comprehensive understanding of each candidate, consider the following:Cover Letter Review: Beyond checking for relevant skills and experience in the resume, pay attention to the candidate's communication style and enthusiasm featured within the Cover Letter. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 45% of employers say they are less likely to interview a candidate if they don't include a cover letter, and 30% find it a significant factor in hiring decisions. A well-crafted cover letter can reveal a candidate's motivation and attention to detail.Skill Assessments:Implement job-specific tests or simulations to evaluate technical proficiency. According to the latest data from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 82% of companies use some form of skill assessment during the hiring process, underscoring its importance in verifying technical capabilities. Additionally, companies that use skill assessments report a 24% higher quality of hire, highlighting the effectiveness of this method.Behavioural Assessments:Use structured questions that explore past experiences. This method helps understand how candidates have handled real-world situations, their problem-solving approaches, and their ability to work in a team. Questions could include:"Can you describe when you had to learn a new skill quickly? How did you approach it?""Tell me about a situation where you had to adapt to a significant change at work. How did you handle it?"Culture Fit Assessments:Include questions about company values, preferred work style, and team dynamics. This step is vital as a poor cultural fit can lead to decreased job satisfaction and higher turnover rates. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, up to 80% of employee turnover is due to poor hiring decisions related to cultural fit. Additionally, companies with established cultures see a 4x increase in revenue growth.Comprehensive Reference Checks: Reference checks should go beyond verifying employment dates and job titles. They are an opportunity to gather deeper insights into a candidate's performance and behaviour:Performance Feedback: Ask about the candidate's strengths, weaknesses, and overall performance in their previous roles.Soft Skills Assessment: Inquire about the candidate's communication skills, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability.Cultural Fit: Discuss how the candidate fits into the previous company's culture and how they interacted with colleagues.Trial Projects and Work SamplesFor specific roles, especially those that are highly technical or creative, consider asking candidates to complete a trial project or submit work samples:Realistic Projects: Assign a small project that reflects the actual work they would be doing. This helps you assess their skills in a real-world context.Work Samples: Request previous work samples, such as reports, designs, or code, to evaluate their quality and relevance.Continuous Feedback and ImprovementIntegrating a holistic approach into your hiring process is a collaborative effort. Continuously gather feedback and refine your methods:Candidate Feedback: Collect feedback from candidates about their experience with your hiring process to identify areas for improvement.Internal Feedback: Gather input from hiring managers and team members about the effectiveness of the holistic evaluation techniques.Metrics and Analysis: Track key hiring metrics, such as time-to-hire, quality of hire, and employee retention, to measure the impact of your holistic approach.What else to consider for a comprehensive evaluation: Standardisation: Use consistent evaluation criteria and rubrics for all candidates to ensure a fair and unbiased assessment. This approach mitigates unconscious bias and helps make objective comparisons. Multiple evaluators: Involve a diverse panel of interviewers from different departments to gain a well-rounded perspective on the candidates. This collaborative approach can uncover different strengths and potential red flags that a single evaluator might miss. Candidate Experience: Ensure a positive candidate experience with clear communication and timely updates. ​Step-by-Step Guide to a Holistic Candidate EvaluationStep 1: Define Your CriteriaTo be effective at candidate evaluations, you must know what kind of person you seek to fill your open roles. Measuring someone's skill and experience can be challenging without first setting standards and minimum requirements. Once you have written your job description, dive deeper into what your ideal candidate looks like – this should include Job Requirements: Must have Technical Skills, experience, and qualifications Soft Skills: Consider the skills and attributes that current employers in the role or a similar role possess. Identify these skills and what they may look like in a potential candidate. Cultural Drivers: Identify the key traits and values of your current team. When conducting phone and in-person interviews, looking for these traits and values in potential employers is crucial. Preferred Qualifications: Identify the nice-to-have attributes that make a candidate stand out.Clearly defining the experience and skills you want from your next hire makes it easier to determine when a qualified person has applied. You can continue to use your ideal candidate profile as a guidepost through the interview stage, and it can help you decide when comparing the top choices. ​Step 2: Pre-Screening Questions:You can streamline candidate evaluation by including pre-screen questions on your application. Two to three questions can help you immediately weed out applicants without minimum qualifications for your open roles. Pre-screen questions serve as a gatekeeper. You know that any applicants that make it past this stage have at least the bare minimum requirements for your job. Pre-screen questions also save you time and guesswork when hiring quickly. Remember that too many pre-screen questions can overwhelm applicants, cause a poor application experience, and even cause them to abandon your application. Include only a few relevant and meaningful questions on your application. Some things you might want to ask include:Work availability Required licenses, certifications, or degreesNumber of years of experience in a specific role or industry Step 3: Use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)Leverage technology to streamline the initial screening process. An ATS can help:Filter Resumes: Automatically filter out resumes that don't meet the essential criteria.Highlight Keywords: Identify resumes that include relevant keywords and phrases.Rank Candidates: Rank candidates based on their match with the job description.Step 4: Perform an Initial ScanQuickly scan each resume to see whether it's worth a deeper look. Focus on:Candidate Location: Simple but essential – the first thing to look for if you are hiring for an in-person position is the candidate's location. If you get a qualified candidate who does not live nearby, don't rule them out just yet. It may be worth a conversation (Or at least an email or text) to see if they plan to relocate to your area. Candidate Objective: Move to the summary or objective section if the resume has one. Look for keywords that help you determine if the candidate has the experience you're looking for and see if you can tell what next step the candidate wants to take in their career. Minimum Qualifications: Pre-screen questions should help you determine whether someone meets your minimum qualifications, but double-check that the resume includes those must-haves you are looking for. Work Experience: When reviewing work history, look for specific examples of a candidate's impact. Dig more deeply than the job title; consider how the candidate describes the roles and responsibilities. This section gives you a great idea of a candidate's track record as an employee. Look at the resume's story: Do you see someone constantly advancing on a career path or an inconsistent job hopper? Past behaviour is usually a good predictor of the future. Growth Potential: A specific job history isn't the only indicator that someone might be successful in a role. Evaluate resumes for soft skills and growth potential. Soft Skills in unrelated positions might be more valuable than an employee who checks all the work history boxes but has no proven results or measurable professional growth. Step 5: Look for Red FlagsAs you review the details, be on the lookout for potential red flags, such as:Frequent Job Changes: Multiple short-term positions without clear reasons.Employment Gaps: Unexplained periods of unemployment.Lack of Specificity: Vague descriptions of roles and responsibilities.Poor Presentation: Spelling mistakes, poor formatting, and unprofessional email addresses.Step 6: Use Checklists and ScorecardsUse checklists and scorecards to evaluate each resume to ensure consistency and fairness. This can include:Basic Qualifications Checklist: A list of must-have qualifications that each resume must meet.Scorecard: A points-based system to rate resumes on various criteria, such as experience, skills, and cultural fit.Step 7: Phone Interview'sSometimes, a resume might excite you about a candidate but leave you with a few questions. Don't make any assumptions about a candidate before asking some clarifying questions. You can do this during an initial phone interview to get more context before moving the candidate forward. This is especially important for clarifying any red flags you picked up or determining a brief cultural fit profile for the candidate before meeting them face-to-face.Step 8: Shortlist CandidatesCreate a shortlist of candidates who meet the criteria based on your evaluations. These are the resumes that should move forward to the interview stage. Ensure that:Top Candidates: The top-scoring resumes are given priority.Balanced List: The shortlist includes a mix of candidates with diverse experiences and backgrounds.Step 9: Prepare for InterviewsThroughout our 27 years of experience, we have consistently found that a negative experience with people in the interview process was one of the top reasons candidates quit a job.Preparing for interviews ahead of time helps you evaluate candidates more effectively and improves your chances of getting those top-choice candidates to say yes to your job offers. Before the interview:Review the Ideal Candidate profile and make sure you have a firm grasp of the roleKnow what you need to evaluate and be able to answer any candidate questions that may arise. Prepare your interview questions ahead of time. Review the candidate's resume, cover letter, and any other relevant data you may have collected (like assessment reports or phone screen notes). Share the candidate's information with other interviewers so everyone can walk in as prepared as you. Interview Formats and Types: There are several ways to interview and get to know your candidates. Depending on the number of candidates you have and the nature of the role you are trying to fill, you will likely use more than one type and format. Structured interviews are when an interviewer prepares a fixed set of questions to ask candidates and stays consistent with those questions. Unstructured interviews are a more natural conversation style where the interviewer can follow their curiosity and ask more tailored questions. Hybrid Interviews are a combination of both. These can take a little more skill as they require an interviewer to know when they should stay on course and when it's ok to deviate. This can be an excellent way to get to know your candidates deeper and ask all candidates the same primary questions. If you are new to interviewing, sticking to a more structured approach can be helpful. Common Interview Questions: Verification Interview Questions are used to verify a candidate's credentials and experience. They can be thought of as "fact-based questions". For Example: "What were your dates of employment?" or "What were your job responsibilities?". Opinion interview questions ask about a candidate's perspective or opinion. They can provide valuable insight into how a candidate thinks, what motivates them, what values they hold, and how they solve problems. Behavioural questions ask for examples of how a candidate has behaved in the past, like: "Tell me about the last time you received feedback and how you responded to it." Most interviews will have a mix of verification, opinion, and behavioural questions. When deciding which questions are correct, return to your Ideal Candidate Profile. Review the desired skills, talents, and behaviours for the role — what questions will help you evaluate those criteria? You can also match interview questions with your company's core values to ensure you're hiring people who align with your company culture.Step 10: Further Evaluations:If the role is complex or technical and requires additional evaluation, you may like to conduct further testing in a second interview to clarify the decision. This may include Behavioural Assessments, Personality Tests, Technical Tests, and situational judgement tests. For Example, Many of our clients will implement skill-based tests within their interview process, requiring the candidate to complete a task using specific software or a complex task. By conducting this within the interview, you can confirm the skills and ability of the candidate to ensure quality starting. Step 11: Follow-UpAfter the interviews, follow up with candidates promptly. Keep in mind:Feedback: Provide constructive feedback to those who need to move forward.Next Steps: Communicate the following steps to those who are shortlisted.Step 12: Reference and Background ChecksWe know it can be tempting for employers to skip the background and reference checks when you're in a hurry to hire – but don't! You should conduct reference and background checks for many important reasons, like workplace safety, data verification, and improved team quality. There are many types of background checks:Criminal background checks Drug screening Employment and education verifications Civil record checksDriver record checks Identity checks Establish a list of necessary checks consistent with your profession and business ethics. For Example, a criminal history check is mandatory if the job involves working with children.Reference checks, which involve talking to a candidate's previous managers or colleagues, can help you fact-check what you've learned about a candidate so far – which is important considering 40% of people lie on their resumes and three out of four employers have caught candidates in a lie. Be sure to ask specific questions about what you want about an applicant. ​Final ThoughtsEffectively assessing candidate resumes is a critical component of the hiring process. By adopting a holistic approach, you can ensure that you're not just hiring candidates with the right qualifications but also those who will thrive within your company culture and contribute positively to your team. Understanding what to look for in a resume, leveraging technology, avoiding common pitfalls, and incorporating holistic evaluation techniques will help you streamline your hiring process and make more informed decisions.At AustCorp Executive, we specialise in providing comprehensive recruitment solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our approach incorporates holistic candidate evaluation techniques to ensure we find the perfect fit for your organisation. By focusing on both the tangible skills and the intangible qualities of your candidates, we help you build a dynamic, cohesive team ready to drive your organisation forward. Ready to transform your hiring process? Contact AustCorp Executive for a free consultation to discover how we can assist with your hiring needs. Let's work together to build a stronger, more successful team.Contact Us

Say Goodbye to Burnout: How the JD-R Model Can Revolutionise Your Organisation’s Approach to Employee Well-being

Heavy workloads and looming deadlines are unavoidable parts of managerial responsibilities. It's natural to feel occasional stress, but when relentless work pressure leads to burnout, it becomes a severe issue. Burnout can negatively impact one's performance, well-being, and the effectiveness of one's team and organisation.What Is Workplace Burnout?The pressure to address job burnout became so intense in 2019 that the World Health Organization declared burnout an occupational phenomenon in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.The World Health Organization defines burnout as "a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed."​What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Burnout?According to the World Health Organization, signs of burnout at work include people feeling:depleted or exhaustedmentally distant from their job or negative feelings or cynicism about their jobreduced professional efficacyWork burnout diminishes employees' desires to learn and grow. When employees experience these symptoms, most of their energy and mental focus is on daily survival, not developing for the future.​What Causes Burnout?There is little doubt that employee burnout is a symptom of modern workplaces that are increasingly fast-paced, complex, and demanding. At work, many employees feel overwhelmed by competing demands and conflicting expectations. Technology—especially mobile technology—has blurred the lines between home and work life.What Causes Burnout in the WorkplaceUnfair Treatment at Work:When employees strongly agree that they are often mistreated at work, they are more likely to experience high burnout. Unfair treatment can include workplace issues, from bias, favouritism and mistreatment by a coworker to inconsistently applied compensation or corporate policies.When employees do not trust their manager, teammates, or executive leadership, the psychological bond that makes work meaningful breaks; conversely, when employees are treated fairly and respected, strong relationships form quickly, and employees are more resilient.Unmanageable workload:Employees who strongly agree that they always have too much to do are likelier to say they often experience burnout or are always at work.Even high-performing employees can quickly shift from optimistic to hopeless when they struggle with unmanageable performance goals and expectations due to a lack of workload management.Feeling overworked or having too much to do can take various forms. Some people think about the long hours they work, while others are more affected by the many tasks they have to complete or the difficulty of the work.However, how people experience their workload has a more substantial influence on stress and burnout. For instance, engaged employees with job flexibility tend to work more hours each week than the average employee while reporting higher well-being.But when work feels burdensome, challenging to do well or endless, employees can feel suffocated, regardless of how few or many hours they work.Unclear communications from managers: When managers provide employees with the information they need to do their jobs effectively, work becomes more accessible and manageable.On the contrast, when performance expectations and accountability are not consistent or clear, employees can become frustrated and exhausted by trying to figure out what their manager wants from them.The best managers regularly discuss responsibilities, priorities, performance goals, and expectations with their employees and collaborate with their team members to ensure that expectations are clear and aligned with team goals.Great managers proactively share information, ask questions and encourage employees to share their thoughts.Unreasonable time pressure: Unreasonable deadlines and pressure can create a snowball effect: Employees who miss one overly aggressive deadline stay caught up on the next thing they are scheduled to do.Notably, individuals handle time pressure differently. Employees naturally fit for a role tend to work more efficiently and sustain high performance for extended periods.They also have more positive daily work experiences and handle stress more effectively under pressure than employees who do not naturally fit.Leaders must ensure that their role expectations and performance standards are fair and inspire excellence. And when employees step up to work overtime or accomplish tasks under tight deadlines, leaders should recognise their willingness to go the extra mile.​Why Do You Need to Worry About Employee Burnout?Burnout is not just an inconvenience—poor well-being affects your organisation's bottom line through lower productivity, higher turnover, higher absenteeism, and higher medical costs (due to preventable conditions). On average, burnout can cost organisations 15% to 20% of total payroll in voluntary turnover costs.The long-term effects of individual employees experiencing burnout are that they take more sick days, feel less confident in their performance, and are more likely to actively seek another job. Thriving employees fuel a thriving workplace, and your organisation can suffer when employees are struggling, experiencing negative emotions, or feeling burned out.​The JD-R Model: A Practical and Effective Framework for Managing Burnout The JD-R Model offers hope in today's complex corporate environment, where balancing high performance and employee well-being is a constant challenge. This model provides A structured approach to balancing job demands and resources, Addressing the root causes of burnout and Fostering a healthier, more productive workforce. The JD-R model's structured approach to managing job demands and enhancing resources makes it a valuable tool for mitigating burnout and creating a healthy, sustainable work environment. What is the JD-R Model? The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model is a framework that encourages employee well-being. Managers and supervisors use it to manage employee involvement. The work stress model suggests that stress arises from the imbalance between the job requirements and the resources the employee has available to meet those requirements. A central proposition in the JD-R theory is that although employees work in various sectors, their job characteristics can be classified into Job Demands and Resources. Job Demands: These are the aspects of the job that require physical as well as emotional effort of the employee and are associated with physiological and psychosocial costs. The job demand consists of: Qualitative job Demands include emotional, mental, and physical demands. Quantitative Job demands: work overload, work underload, pace of change Organisational demands: Negative demand, harassment, role conflicts, interpersonal conflicts. Job Resources: Job resources are aspects of the job that support and facilitate employees in doing their jobs; this also helps employees reduce job demands and stimulate personal growth. Example include: Social Resources: Co-worker support, supervisor support, team atmosphere, effectiveness, role clarity and recognition. Work resources: job control, person-job fit, task variety, use of skills. Organisational resources: Communication, Alignment, Trust in leadership, fair pay. Development resources: Performance feedback, possibilities for learning and development and career perspective Energy Processes: The proposed models demonstrate that employee energy is the central mechanism linking job resources, demands, and outcomes. As job responsibilities increase, employees must invest their energy in handling heavier workloads, time pressure, and challenging goals. Organisations should consider this to assist employees in meeting job demands and provide the necessary resources to replenish their energy. Outcomes: The JD-R model predicts that employees' outcomes depend on their balance between job resources and job demands; providing ample job resources with proper clarity in job demands will yield positive job outcomes, while not providing them will yield adverse outcomes and burnout. Positive Outcomes include improved employee work productivity, increased employee engagement, job satisfaction and low employee turnover. Adverse outcomes include burnout, employee health issues, and lower job performance.​Figure 1: Job Demands-Resources (JD-R ) Theory​How to use the JD-R Model? Follow these steps if you want to apply the JD-R model effectively. How to Use the JD-R Model - DiagramIdentifying Job Demands Start by analysing the job demands and requirements of that position and identify all the negative stressors and the physical, psychological, and organisational aspects of a job. Examples of these are: Project Deadlines Work pressure The high volume of work Uncomfortable work environment Poor leadership Unclear goals and objectives Company politics Emotionally draining task and role No learning and development opportunity Limited opportunity for growth​Addressing Job Demands After making a list of all the factors that have negative consequences in the workplace, review them to understand the causes and assess if you can make any changes. For example, if an employee is dissatisfied with their work due to repetitive tasks and unchallenging work, you could reassign them to a new role and look for a department that needs a new perspective.Similarly, organisations can engage with every department and team to understand their concerns and problems and what to do for new joiners. This helps identify the company's communication problems and address issues related to a lack of structure in the workplace. Below are some common examples of changes you can make to address these job demands: Defining roles and objectives helps team members understand the definition of success and how to accomplish it, reducing stress and minimising the risk of burnout. Being clear about goals also includes recognising that it is acceptable and beneficial to disconnect and recharge once daily objectives have been achieved, significantly reducing the likelihood of burnout. Streamlining workflows: Improving workflows involves optimising and simplifying processes to boost efficiency and productivity in the workplace. This can be accomplished by identifying and eliminating redundant tasks, automating repetitive processes, and ensuring clear communication channels. Employers can introduce project management software such as Asana or Trello to track assignments and deadlines, ensuring everyone is aligned and aware of their responsibilities. Regular process audits can also help pinpoint bottlenecks and areas for improvement. Ensure that training is conducted for employees on best practices and using new tools to enhance their ability to work effectively. Fostering a culture of open communication and transparency: First and foremost, communication channels must be robust and transparent. A leader's willingness to listen can be as crucial as their ability to guide. Leaders can identify potential burnout triggers early by fostering an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their concerns and challenges. This means more than maintaining an open-door policy; it means actively contacting and checking in with team members. It's about creating a culture where the line between professional and personal well-being is acknowledged and respected. Prioritise and delegate tasks: Identify critical priorities and align tasks accordingly. Leaders must delegate responsibilities based on their team members' strengths and capacities. This encourages a more manageable workload and allows employees to focus on what they do best, reducing overwhelming feelings. Set Realistic Deadlines: When setting deadlines, consider the complexity of the task and team members' existing workloads. Unrealistic time pressures can lead to stress, which may compromise the quality of work. Open discussions about what is achievable within a given timeframe can lead to more realistic deadlines and a reduction in overload. Encourage Regular Breaks: It may seem counterintuitive, but short breaks can significantly improve productivity. Encourage your team to step away from their desks, walk, or engage in other restful activities. This helps refresh the mind and can lead to more efficient work output. ​Identifying Possible Job Resources/Positives This step involves recognising what resources are currently available and what additional resources may be needed to help employees manage job demands and foster personal growth. Determine the job resources or positives that can help employees find fulfilment and feel motivated, passionate, and committed, acting as buffers to job demands. These resources could include: Enhanced Autonomy: Enhancing autonomy in the workplace involves empowering employees to take ownership of their tasks and make decisions independently, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and productivity. This can be achieved by: Provide clear goals and expectations but allow employees the flexibility to determine how they achieve them. Encouraging self-directed projects and providing opportunities for professional development. Implementing flexible work hours or remote work opportunities can give employees more control over their schedules. Trusting employees to manage their workloads and offering support when needed, rather than micromanaging. Creating a culture that values innovation and independent problem-solving. Facilitating Supportive relationships: Encourage strong work relationships and teamwork through social activities and team-building exercises. Regular team outings, such as group lunches, happy hours, or recreational sports, provide an informal setting for employees to bond and build rapport outside of the office environment. Structured team-building exercises, like collaborative workshops or volunteer events, can improve communication, trust, and collaboration among team members. Employers can also encourage cross-departmental projects or mentorship programs to facilitate connections between employees who may not typically interact. Flexibility in work arrangements: Adaptability also plays a pivotal role. While the traditional 9-to-5 model applies in many scenarios, it might only suit some. Recognising this, leaders can explore flexible working hours, remote options, or job-sharing schemes. These alternatives accommodate team members' diverse life circumstances and preferences and signal trust—a potent antidote to burnout. Promotion of Work-life balance: Leaders should also embody the work-life balance they advocate. It's challenging for team members to feel justified in taking time for themselves if they see their leaders perpetually overworked and unavailable. By setting an example—taking regular breaks, prioritising time, or openly discussing their methods for managing stress—leaders can legitimise the pursuit of balance within their teams. Improving Work Conditions: Provide a comfortable work environment and remove any physical or logistical barriers hindering productivity. This might involve introducing ergonomic office setups with adjustable chairs and desks, which can alleviate physical strain whilst ensuring lighting is conducive to comfort and concentration. You can also introduce quiet zones or relaxation areas where employees can take short breaks. Well-being programs: Investing in wellness programs signifies a commitment to employee health. From fitness memberships to mental health support, these initiatives show that the organisation cares about its employees' well-being, fostering loyalty and enhancing overall performance. Celebrate achievements and provide feedback: Consistent and constructive feedback and recognition of employee accomplishments are critical motivators. They reassure employees of their value to the organisation and reinforce personalised contributions, thereby sustaining higher performance for members without the adverse effects of overload. Constructive feedback also plays a crucial role in personal and professional development, enabling employees to grow and improve their performance without feeling overloaded. Investing in Training & Development: Finally, investing in professional development and career growth can significantly mitigate feelings of stagnation and frustration, which often contribute to burnout. Leaders can craft personalised paths by identifying and nurturing each team member's strengths and ambitions. Encorganisationm to pursue additional training, attend conferences, or take on challenging projects can reignite passion and a sense of purpose. Training sessions on time management, stress management, and effective communication can also equip your team with the tools to perform optimally without feeling overwhelmed.​Promoting Your Job Resources When you have the resources ready, the next step is to implement and actively support the identified resources to ensure they are accessible and utilised by employees. Actions needed: Implementation: Roll out the identified resources, ensuring they are integrated into the organisational processes and accessible to all employees. Communication: Communicate the availability and benefits of these resources to employees, ensuring they understand how to access and use them. Support: Provide ongoing support to employees to encourage their use of these resources, such as training sessions, informational resources, and dedicated contact points. Evaluation: Continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the promoted resources, gathering feedback and adjusting as necessary. ​Conclusion In conclusion, addressing burnout is not just a matter of individual well-being—it's a crucial strategy for organisational effectiveness and sustainability. With heavy workloads and looming deadlines becoming an unavoidable part of managerial responsibilities, the threat of burnout looms large. As we have explored, burnout impacts the individual and the overall performance and health of teams and organisations. The adverse physical and mental health consequences of burnout underscore the need for well-designed and efficient workforce management strategies.The JD-R Model offers a practical and effective framework for managing burnout by balancing job demands and resources. Organisations can mitigate the risks of burnout by identifying and addressing job demands, providing adequate resources, and fostering a supportive and flexible work environment. The model's structured approach helps create a healthier, more productive workforce, ensuring employees are engaged, motivated, and satisfied.Implementing clear role definitions, streamlined workflows, open communication, realistic deadlines, regular breaks, improved work conditions, and well-being programs can significantly reduce burnout. Additionally, enhancing autonomy, facilitating supportive relationships, and investing in training and development are essential to promoting a positive work environment.At AustCorp Executive, we specialise in recruitment and workforce management solutions. With over 27 years of experience, we understand organisations' challenges with high turnover rates, absenteeism, and burnout. Our expertise lies in helping organisations like yours build effective strategies to create thriving workplaces. We are dedicated to aligning talent with opportunities, ensuring your organisation and employees prosper.Ready to transform your approach to employee well-being and create a resilient workplace? Contact AustCorp Executive today to discover how our recruitment and workforce management solutions can support your HR needs, provide the relief you need, and help you foster a positive, productive, and engaged workforce. With us, you can be confident that you're making the right choice for your organisation. Contact Us ​​

Employer Branding: Turning Your Organisation into an Employer of Choice

In today's highly competitive job market, the global talent shortage is a pressing issue for organisations. To address this, businesses must adopt robust strategies to position themselves as employers of choice. In this context, employer branding plays a crucial role in building a solid identity and attracting skilled professionals. What is Employer Branding? Employer branding is not just a buzzword; it is a strategic investment that delivers tangible results. It involves creating a unique and appealing employer image that highlights the company's practical, financial, and emotional benefits. The ultimate goal of employer branding is to position the company as the preferred choice in the job market. It's important to remember that employer branding is not just about attracting and retaining talent. It's about the people who make your company what it is. Your employees play a crucial role in shaping your company’s culture and reputation. A strong employer brand, aligned with the company's values and objectives, fosters a consistent and unified identity, reinforcing organisational culture and driving business success. It's a testament to the value your employees bring to the table. This blog explores the strategic elements of employer branding, focusing on practical implementation, benefits, and how it can provide a competitive edge in the talent market. We will cover the steps needed to develop a compelling Employer Value Proposition (EVP), the importance of internal marketing and employee engagement, and the metrics for measuring the impact of employer branding. By the end of this article, you will be equipped to leverage employer branding to transform your organisation into an employer of choice. ​Step 1: Conduct Comprehensive Research Building an effective employer branding strategy begins with understanding the current perception of your employer brand. Knowing how your organisation is viewed internally by employees and externally by potential candidates is crucial for identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Internal Research Employee Surveys and Focus Groups: Conduct surveys and organise focus groups to gather insights from current employees about what they value most in their workplace. Explore the work environment, benefits, career development opportunities, and work-life balance. This feedback will help identify your organisation’s unique selling points (USPs) and areas needing enhancement. Employee Exit Interviews: These conversations between employers and departing employees provide valuable feedback and insights into reasons for leaving. Effectively conducting exit interviews involves creating a comfortable and confidential environment, asking open-ended questions, and using the gathered insights to make positive organisational changes. External Research Market Analysis: Analyse job market trends to understand what prospective employees seek in an employer. Study industry reports job boards, and social media to identify trends and preferences in the job market. Seek Market Trends and LinkedIn Talent Insights can be of assistance when collecting this type of data. Competitor Benchmarking: Study your competitors' employer branding strategies to understand their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you identify opportunities to differentiate your brand and attract top talent. This can be done by analysing the career pages or job postings on competitors websites as well as their profiles on Glassdoor and Indeed which can provide insights into employee reviews and ratings. Target Group Perception: Understand how prospective employees perceive your company, what they want and need from an employer, and how your employer brand stands relative to competitors. This can be achieved through social listening tools like Brandwatch,Mention, or Sprinklr, which allow you to monitor conversations related to your brand across various online platforms. You can also attain this information through recruitment agencies like AustCorp Executive, who can perform Market Mapping and provide valuable insights into your target audience's perceptions and preferences.Step 2: Develop an Employer Value Proposition (EVP) The core of a company's employer branding is the Employer Value Proposition (EVP), which reflects how the company wants to be perceived by potential or current employees. The EVP also represents the value employees are expected to contribute and the value they can expect in return from employers. The EVP framework consists of five components that create employee value: Compensation Competitive salary packages are essential to attract and retain top talent. Compensation is often the first thing potential employees look at when considering a job offer. Therefore, your compensation packages must be competitive within your industry. Benchmarking: Conduct regular market salary surveys or collect data from reputable sources to ensure your compensation packages are competitive within your industry. Transparency: Communicate compensation structures and potential benefits and awards during recruitment and onboarding. Incentives: Implement performance-based bonuses and incentives that reward high achievers and align with company goals. Benefits Benefits include non-salary perks like health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other personal benefits like gym memberships, wellness programs, or childcare support. A comprehensive benefits package enhances employee satisfaction and loyalty, making your organisation attractive to potential hires. Needs Assessment: Conduct surveys to understand which benefits your employees value the most. Customisation: Offer flexible benefit packages that cater to the diverse needs of your workforce. Communication: Regularly update employees about their benefits and how to access these services. Work Content Work content refers to the nature of the job itself, including the variety, complexity, autonomy, meaningfulness, and feedback mechanisms. Engaging and meaningful work content motivates employees, boosts job satisfaction, and reduces turnover rates. Job Design: Ensure roles are designed to provide a variety of tasks and opportunities for skill utilisation. Feedback Systems: Implement regular feedback mechanisms to help employees understand their performance and areas for improvement. Autonomy: Encourage a culture of trust where employees have the autonomy to make decisions and manage their workload. Career Career development encompasses long-term opportunities for growth, learning, and advancement within the organisation. Opportunities for career advancement and skill development are critical factors in attracting and retaining ambitious professionals. Career Paths: Clearly define and communicate potential career paths within the organisation. Training Programs: Offer ongoing training and development programs to help employees acquire new skills and advance in their careers. Mentorship: Implement mentorship programs where experienced employees can guide and support newer staff. Affiliation Affiliation refers to employees' emotional connection towards the organisation, including a sense of belonging and alignment with the company's values. A strong sense of affiliation fosters loyalty, enhances employee morale, and creates advocates for your employer brand. Cultural Fit: Ensure your hiring process screens for cultural fit and alignment with company values. Community Building: Foster a supportive work environment through team-building activities, social events, and open communication channels. Recognition: Regularly recognise and celebrate employee achievements and contributions to reinforce a sense of belonging. By thoughtfully and strategically addressing these five components, your organisation can develop a compelling EVP that attracts top talent, enhances employee satisfaction, and strengthens your overall employer brand. Aligning Core Values with Your EVP Aligning your employer branding with the company's core values and corporate goals is not just fundamental, it's essential. It's about creating an image that resonates with your employees, both current and potential, and makes your organisation an attractive workplace. This image should reflect the true essence of your organisation, rooted in its core values and strategic objectives. It's about fostering a sense of connection and commitment to your company's mission. For example, if an organisation prioritises sustainability, its employer branding should reflect this commitment by highlighting sustainable business practices, eco-friendly office environments, and CSR activities. Aligning employer branding with corporate goals also helps achieve strategic objectives. For instance, if a company aims to expand into new markets, the employer branding strategy can emphasise career growth and global exposure opportunities. ​Step 3: External Communication of the EVP Once the EVP is developed, it must be effectively communicated to the target audience. External communication is vital for attracting potential employees and creating a positive perception of the organisation. Methods include: Career Websites: Feature engaging job descriptions highlighting the EVP. This is often the first touchpoint for potential candidates, so convey your unique strengths. Social media: Share success stories, employee testimonials, and insights into company culture. Social media allows real-time engagement and showcases the authentic employee experience. Recruitment Campaigns: Ensure consistent messaging across all recruitment platforms. Maintain a cohesive narrative highlighting your organisation’s unique aspects and competitive advantages. ​Step 4: Internal Marketing of Employer Branding Internal marketing reinforces the EVP within the organisation, ensuring that current employees are engaged and aligned with your employer brand. Promoting the Employer Brand Internally Onboarding Programs: Incorporate the EVP into onboarding programs to ensure new hires understand and embrace the company's values and culture from day one. Regular Updates: Use internal newsletters, social media, emails, events, and meetings to inform employees about company news, achievements, and initiatives. Consistent communication helps reinforce the employer's brand. Leadership Engagement: Leaders play a pivotal role in embodying the company's values and culture, setting the tone for the entire organisation. They should actively practice and encourage the organisation's values, participate in branding initiatives, and share their experiences on social media to humanise and strengthen the employer brand. Aligning Internal Communications with the EVP Ensure all internal communications reflect the EVP and reinforce the organisation’s values and culture. This creates a cohesive employee brand experience and helps build a strong internal brand. Consistent Messaging: Clear and consistent communication of the company's values, culture, and value proposition across all touchpoints creates a seamless and cohesive experience for everyone interacting with the brand. Feedback Mechanisms: Establish surveys and suggestion boxes to gather employee input on internal communications and branding efforts, ensuring that messaging resonates with employees and addresses their needs. ​Step 5: Employee Advocacy Employees are the most credible advocates for an employer brand. Their authentic and positive experiences can influence perceptions and strengthen the employer's brand. Happy employees are likelier to share their positive work experiences, acting as powerful advocates. Benefits of Employee Advocacy Credibility: Potential candidates trust the opinions of current employees more than official corporate messaging. Employee testimonials and endorsements are viewed as more authentic and reliable. Reach: Employees can extend the reach of the employer brand beyond the organisation’s official channels, attracting a broader and more diverse talent pool. Engagement: Engaged employees who believe in the employer brand are more productive, loyal, and motivated. Strategies for Engaging Employees Implement strategies that engage employees in brand-building activities to harness the power of employee advocacy: Employee Recognition Programs: Recognise and reward employees who embody the organisation’s values and contribute to its success. Recognition can take various forms, such as awards, bonuses, and public acknowledgment. Employee Advocacy Programs: Encourage employees to become brand ambassadors. Provide tools and training for adequate representation. For example, set up company employee profiles on review sites like Glassdoor. Social Media Engagement and Employee Stories: Leverage social media to showcase employee experiences. Highlighting real stories humanises the brand and creates a more relatable and appealing image. Feature employees in blog posts, videos, and social media posts to share their personal stories and career journeys. Create branded hashtags for employees to post about their work experiences, amplifying employee-generated content. ​Step 6: Measuring the Impact of Employer Branding Measuring the impact of employer branding is crucial for understanding its effectiveness and areas for improvement. By tracking specific metrics and using appropriate tools, organisations can gauge how well their employer branding efforts resonate with current and potential employees. Key Metrics and Tools Employee Satisfaction: Measures how happy and content employees are with their jobs. Employee satisfaction strongly indicates a positive workplace culture and effective employer branding. Use satisfaction surveys to gather feedback on various aspects of the work environment, leadership, Compensation, and benefits. Engagement Levels: Reflect on the degree to which employees are emotionally invested in their work and committed to the organisation. Engaged employees are more productive, loyal, and likely to advocate for the employer brand. Tools like Gallup's Q12 survey can assess factors that drive employee engagement, such as recognition, development opportunities, and alignment with the company mission. Turnover Rates: Track the rate at which employees leave the organisation over a specific period. High turnover rates can indicate issues with employer branding. By tracking turnover rates and conducting exit interviews, you can identify common reasons for employee departure. Talent Attraction Metrics: Measure the effectiveness of employer branding in attracting top talent. Strong employer branding should result in a higher number of qualified applicants and lower cost-per-hire. Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to monitor the number and quality of applicants, time-to-fill positions, and cost-per-hire. Platforms like Glassdoor can provide insights into how potential candidates perceive your employer brand. In conclusion, enhancing employer branding is not merely a strategic advantage but necessary in today's competitive job market. By understanding and leveraging the core elements of employer branding, HR managers and executive leaders can significantly improve their organisation's ability to attract and retain top talent by conducting thorough research, developing a compelling Employer Value Proposition (EVP), aligning this EVP with core values, and effectively communicating both internally and externally are crucial steps in this process. Additionally, engaging employees as brand advocates and measuring the impact of your employer's branding efforts are essential for continuous improvement and sustained success. Implementing these strategies will help your organisation stand out to prospective employees and foster a positive and productive workplace culture that drives business success. By prioritising employer branding, you position your organisation as an employer of choice, capable of attracting and retaining the best talent in the industry. At AustCorp Executive, we specialise in talent acquisition and are dedicated to helping organisations like yours develop and refine their employer branding and talent acquisition strategies. Our expertise ensures you attract and retain the top talent to drive your business forward. Ready to transform your employer brand and talent acquisition approach? Contact us today to learn how we can support your HR needs and help you become an employer of choice. Contact Us

AustCorp Aged Care: Laura's experience as a FIFO Nurse in Australia

At AustCorp Aged Care, we specialise in connecting talented professionals with rewarding opportunities across the sector. Recently, we had the privilege of interviewing Laura, one of our contract nurses. Originally from Ireland, Laura has been an AustCorp aged care FIFO nurse for the past six months. She has worked in various locations, from bustling cities to remote outback communities, providing a unique perspective on the life of a contract and FIFO nurse across Australia. Laura has shared her thoughts and feedback with facilities and senior management, providing valuable insights into the benefits and challenges of contract nursing.Please tell us who you are."Laura, I am originally from Ireland, but now live in Sydney. I have been working as a nurse for five years now, 4 in Ireland and the last 12 months in Australia, with a mixture of Aged Care and Hospitals throughout that time!" Why do you pick contracting over permanent work? "The flexibility and freedom it gives me allow me to travel to some unique and beautiful landscapes and see all corners of Australia while still working and earning money." What do you look for when picking a contract?"Location firstly, I want to explore on my days off, so that's important to me. Accommodation: I like my space and feel uncomfortable sharing it with people I don't know. I know it's not always possible, but it's a big thing for me. Lastly is roster – I wanted to work at least 4/5 shifts a week to make my time away worth it and financially beneficial."What don't you enjoy about working contracts?"Missing events, the nature of the work means I must miss some events and parties with friends! Also, the unknown, sometimes you don't click with people, and that's life, but sometimes it can make for a difficult contract!"How do you balance work commitments with self-care and personal time, especially during demanding contracts?"Self-care is crucial, even amidst the demanding nature of nursing contracts. I carve out time for activities like yoga and meditation to rejuvenate my spirit. Additionally, exploring the serene landscapes of Australia during my downtime serves as a therapeutic escape, reinvigorating me for the challenges ahead."What strategies do you employ to adapt quickly to new environments and healthcare settings when starting a new contract?"Flexibility is key when transitioning to new contracts. I try to observe and absorb the unique dynamics of each facility swiftly. Engaging with colleagues, actively listening, and seeking guidance help me integrate seamlessly into the team, ensuring optimal patient care from the onset of the contract."Could you share a valuable lesson or insight you've gained from your diverse nursing experiences that have shaped your professional approach?"One invaluable lesson I've learned is the significance of empathy in nursing. Each patient has a unique story and journey, and by truly listening and empathising, I can provide holistic and personalised care, ensuring their physical well-being and emotional and mental comfort. This lesson resonates deeply with me in every contract I undertake."What's some general feedback you have for facilities? "Going the extra mile to welcome us goes a long way; a buddy shift or two to help us get a full orientation along with the ins and outs of the facility and standout residents. I am keen to give you a great first impression, but I equally want a great first impression of an organised, well-run and most importantly, safe facility!"Lastly, why Austcorp Healthcare?"Seb is available whenever I need him, evenings, weekends and bank holidays! He is proactive when I am coming to the end of my contract about potential extensions or new places. He also listens to my concerns, voices anything back to management that I'm unsettled about, and communicates back to me quickly." AustCorp Aged CareAre you interested in learning more about AustCorp Aged Care and how we can connect you with rewarding opportunities in the sector? Check out our AustCorp Aged Care page for more information. Additionally, you can explore our available roles via our job page. If you have any questions or want to know how we can assist with your job search, don't hesitate to contact us. We look forward to supporting your journey in the aged care industry!AustCorp Aged CareContact UsFind a Job