Labour pains: tips for workers

Published 17 November 2021

Acting Deputy Director of People and Culture, Lee Atkinson-Barrett

In our series, Labour Pains, UNE’s Acting Deputy Director of People and Culture, Lee Atkinson-Barrett, reflects on the challenges and opportunities in today’s competitive labour market. Here are her top tips for those of us looking to change jobs.

Do your due diligence

“Research the organisation you are looking to join: take a serious look at its strategic plan and annual report, to see what the organisation is reporting on,” says Lee.

“Consider interviewing people who work there, to get the lay of the land, and a sense of the workplace culture.

"Remember that the engagement of a new employee is an agreement between two people, so be prepared in the interview to ask questions about things that are important to you, to establish whether your needs and those of the organisation align."

Know your market value

“Consider the skills you have and those required for the role you are looking at or aspire to. The National Skills Commission of Australia has a helpful website and there are a number of free resources available for researching salary data; just type ‘salary comparison’ into your favourite search engine. It’s important to know your market value and to learn how to communicate your transferrable skills in an interview."

Self-reflection

“Recent events have changed the way many of us think about the function of work in our lives. In considering a new position, think about your non-negotiables, including the employment conditions and benefits that you want. You may be prepared to take a lower salary in return for other things like a good superannuation package or regional location with a lower cost of living."

Communicate your needs and ambitions respectfully

“When it comes to negotiating the conditions of employment, engage respectfully and be realistic. I think COVID has given people a little more courage to ask about more flexible hours, without fearing it could risk their employment. I would like to think that employers would also now respond more favourably."

Lifelong learning

Whether you decide to stay in your current job or accept a new offer, today’s labour market demands constant upskilling.

“It’s up to each of us to take responsibility for our personal and professional development, and to commit to lifelong learning,” Lee says.

“You cannot sit around and wait for employers to provide that for you; they may offer it as an incentive or enticement, which is fantastic, but you also need to invest in your own future. Employees are now likely to move in and out of workplaces, so if you don’t keep pace, you will soon become redundant.”

Read Part 1 of our series here - Labour Pains: the 'Great Resignation'