Alumni Magazine Issue 6

Discovering your potential in a competitive market 2020 continues to disrupt and challenge a range of industries. Navigating these changes can be overwhelming, but there are a number of practical steps you can take to respond in a career crisis. Notre Dame’s Career Officer, Kim Shaw, explains... While the COVID-19 pandemic has seen an explosion in labour demand for certain industries such as logistics and healthcare, thousands of others have lost their jobs and are seeking work or considering a career change. If you’ve been bumped out of your career comfort zone and need to change pathways, try these proactive strategies: Do a skills audit Identify your proven strengths, explore where they may be needed, and recognise gaps in sectors outside of your original industry. Upskill via LinkedIn Learning and short courses. Research your industry Most professions have industry associations you can reach out to. Google search ‘Australia Associations’ and the name of your profession. Conducting informational interviews with industry professionals can help you identify new opportunities in related sectors and LinkedIn is a useful tool for this. Network outside the box Don’t just rely on job advertisements. It is vital to connect with people in your profession outside of your current network. Initiating new conversations can lead to improved reputation and credibility. Change your mindset Your career and employment planning is about you, but the process makes employers more like customers. Adopting a service mindset prompts you to be curious. Ask yourself: “What are my industry’s needs and values?” Reflect on what current skills match these needs and identify potential gaps. You can access Notre Dame’s Career Service for up to 18 months after Graduation. Search CareerHub for jobs, resources and events. The Career Service can help you: • Build confidence in securing work opportunities • Develop self-marketing skills for networking, CV and cover letters, and interview practice • Source information about your industry and work rights Book a one-to-one career appointment Log in to CareerHub with your Notre Dame username and password activate now Alumni LinkedIn Learning access Expand your employment opportunities and gain a competitive edge. LinkedIn Learning courses can support you through each phase of your career trajectory – and free unlimited access is available for all Notre Dame alumni. Sign in using your University ID and password to access a wide range of current online learning resources to support your professional and personal skills development. LinkedIn Learning is a global online library containing thousands of on-demand digital courses. Activate your LinkedIn Learning account: notredame.edu.au/alumni/linkedin-learning Career advice Alumni Magazine – Page 14