Nailing your job hunt: A guide for school leavers

Updated on Education

Every January, countless school leavers across Australia embark on their job-hunting journey.

A NSW Government survey conducted in 2021 found that of 42,388 secondary school leavers, approximately 50% continued to higher education, while the remaining 50% chose to seek employment (14% apprenticeship; 13% part-time work; 8% full-time work; 7% looking for work; 5% traineeship; 3% other).

That’s roughly 21,000 job-seekers – in NSW alone – hitting the employment market all at once! Extrapolate that across all of Australia, and you see where this is going.

Given that a single job advertisement might attract scores of applicants, how can you stand out from the crowd?

Drawing attention to your resume is easily achieved with little effort. Consider these points:

Soft skills

Don’t think you have experience? Think again!

Perhaps you’ve done volunteer work, played a team sport, performed in a school play or fed the neighbour’s cat while they travelled.

A positive attitude, ability to articulate an idea, reliability, problem solve or work in a team are considered soft skills – and they’re highly prized.

Your activities and hobbies tell employers a lot about you. Showcase them on your resume and talk about them during interviews.

Resilience and EI

Employers value candidates demonstrating emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience.

EI behaviours include: taking constructive criticism, displaying empathy and patience with others, resolving conflicts, awareness of cultural sensitivities, etc.

Characteristics of resilience include: bouncing-back from setbacks, willingness to change, etc.

When you provide examples of these attributes, potential employers gain an insight into how you communicate, develop relationships, support others and motivate yourself and those around you.

Digital literacy

Get familiar with the corporate software and tools specific to your chosen industry. Study advertised position descriptions to understand what companies are using and their expectations of candidates.

Resources like LinkedInLearning have literally thousands of online courses. There may be a subscription fee but – huge tip – many local libraries include free LinkedInLearning access as part of your library membership.

Prospective employers will be impressed with your effort to upskill yourself and your commitment to ongoing learning.

Your brand

Conduct a self-audit of your digital presence. Employers often check social media profiles so it’s important your online views and attitudes align with your professional image.

Get active on business platforms like LinkedIn, and share and comment on industry content. Build a network by connecting with professionals in your chosen field and attending business events or workshops.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for guidance – most people will be pleased to help.

Write a schmick resume

Check out the government’s Job Jumpstart website (www.jobjumpstart.gov.au) for hints and a whole lot more on writing effective resumes and cover letters.

And here’s another big tip: never underestimate the value of correct spelling and punctuation. If you don’t know the difference between their, there and they’re, or your, you’re and yore, polish your grammar skills and don’t rely on spell-check.

And finally…

Get interview ready. Anticipate questions and practice responding. Remember that there are very few opportunities in life where you’ll be encouraged to talk about yourself and your achievements. So, without being arrogant or braggy, relax and enjoy the moment.

If you’re not successful in securing the job, handle it with professionalism and think about where you might improve. Consider it a learning experience rather than failure!

Entering the workforce, applying and interviewing for jobs, can be daunting. But when you do land that gig, there’s no buzz to compare with earning your own money.

You’ve made it and you’re announcing to the world: I’m on my way, just try and stop me!

The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.  

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Post Christmas Sales – A Survival Guide 

Post Christmas Sales – A Survival Guide 

Updated on Budgeting, Education, Finance

We’ve all experienced it… the undeniable allure of post-Christmas sales.   No sooner has Christmas wrapped up for the year than the frenzy of Boxing Day Sales descends upon us.  Every store window beckons, and our inboxes overflow with promises of unbeatable discounts.  But before you indulge in some festive leftovers and make a beeline for the air-conditioned wonderland of sales, let’s take a moment to pause and ponder…   Is that shiny, discounted gadget truly a necessity?   Do those new outfits genuinely add value to your wardrobe?   Or might there be a wiser way to allocate your hard-earned money?  The Allure and Reality of Post-Christmas Sales  The holiday season often leaves our wallets feeling lighter than usual.   Australia’s festive spending reached an eye-watering $74.5 billion in 2022, marking an 8.6% increase from the previous year, according to the Australian Retailers Association.   And Boxing Day? A whopping $1.23 billion was spent in just 24 hours!   These figures aren’t just numbers; they paint a picture of our collective weakness for a good holiday sale.  But here’s the other side of the coin: while sales can offer genuine bargains, they also come with pitfalls. The risk of accumulating more debt is a very real reality for many shoppers, especially with credit cards already stretched thin from holiday shopping.   And let’s face it, impulse purchases can often lead to buyer’s remorse and an overstuffed home.  The Merits of Post-Christmas Sales  While the post-Christmas sales period often comes with warnings of overspending, it’s not all doom and gloom.  When approached with a well-thought-out strategy, these sales can be a great opportunity to secure essential items—be it electronics, clothing, or household goods—at a fraction of their original prices.   But how can one truly benefit without falling into the common traps? The key lies in being discerning.   With a bit of planning and restraint, the post-Christmas sales can be both enjoyable and economically rewarding.  Smart Money Moves Beyond Sales  It’s easy to forget about your bigger picture goals when there are neon signs screaming discounts of 50% OFF or more!  But remember, every dollar spent is a dollar less saved… or put towards those bigger picture goals.    Before you fall prey to the post-Christmas sales, consider these alternatives:  Save for a Rainy Day: Life is unpredictable. Having a safety net can make all the difference.  Debt Reduction: Free yourself from the burden of debt, by paying down your credit cards and/or any loans you have.   Invest: Think stocks, bonds, or other avenues to grow your wealth. (Hello Financial Freedom!)  Financial Goals: Would you rather a new outfit?  Or to be one step closer to that dream holiday, new car, or first home?    Post-Christmas sales can be both a treasure trove and a minefield. The choice is yours.   This festive season don’t succumb blindly to the allure of holiday sale discounts. Instead, either purchase your “need to have” items (remember, be discerning here!), or skip the sales completely and opt to put the money towards your financial goals!   Here’s to spending wisely, and a financially savvy new year!  The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.  

Pay attention to super in your 30s

Pay attention to super in your 30s

Updated on Education, Superannuation

If you are in your 30s, chances are life revolves around children and a mortgage – not super. And as much as we love our kids, the fact is they cost quite a lot. As for the mortgage, this is the age during which repayments are generally at their highest, relative to income. And on top of that, one parent is often not working, or working only part time. Even if children aren’t a factor, career building is paramount during this decade. Don’t be alarmed, but by the time a 35-year-old couple today reaches retirement age in 32 years’ time, the effects of inflation could mean that they will need an income of about $150,000 per year to enjoy a ‘comfortable’ retirement. To support that level of income for up to 30 years in retirement they will want to have built a combined nest egg of about $2.7 million! If you are on a 30% or higher marginal tax rate, willing to stash some cash for the long term, and would like to reduce your tax bill, then consider making salary sacrifice (pre-tax) contributions to super. For most people super contributions and earnings are taxed at 15%, so savings will grow faster in super than outside it. Even if you can’t make additional contributions right now there is one thing you can do to help achieve a comfortable retirement: ensure your super is invested in an appropriate portfolio. With decades to go until retirement, a portfolio with a higher proportion of shares, property and other growth assets is likely to out-perform one that is dominated by cash and fixed interest investments. But be mindful: the higher the return, the higher the associated risk. For any young family, financial protection is crucial. The loss of or disablement of either parent would be disastrous. In most cases both parents should be covered by life and disability insurance. If this insurance is taken out through your superannuation fund the premiums are paid out of your accumulated super balance. While this means that your ultimate retirement benefit will be a bit less than if you took out insurance directly, it doesn’t impact on the current family budget. However, don’t just accept the amount of cover that many funds automatically provide. It may not be adequate for your needs. Whether it’s super, insurance, establishing investments or building your career, there’s a lot to think about when you’re thirty-something. It’s an ideal age to start some serious financial planning, so contact us today about putting a plan into place.   The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

Economic Update: April-June 2021

Economic Update: April-June 2021

Updated on COVID-19, Economy

Employment surprise JobKeeper was a cornerstone of Australia’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. It provided millions of Australians with an ongoing income and kept thousands of businesses afloat, so when it came to an end in March expectations were that there would be a sharp spike in unemployment. One estimate was that 150,000 workers would lose their jobs. Happily, that wasn’t what happened. From March to April the unemployment rate dropped from 5.7% to 5.5%, then fell to just 5.1% in May. That’s below the 5.2% that applied in January 2020 before the pandemic hit, and an amazing outcome given the damage that COVID-19 continues to inflict on a virus-weary world. Housing continued to sizzle… Aspiring homeowners and upsizers endured another quarter of woe as home prices continued to soar. Nationally, dwelling prices were up 6.1% for the quarter and 13.5% for the year, with houses outperforming units. Of course, on the other side of the equation are homeowners, many of whom are delighted by the significant boost to their wealth. Continuing low interest rates remain the key driver, but other issues have played a part, including stamp duty discounts and households redirecting the cash they would otherwise have spent on overseas holidays. Lockdowns last year also affected the normal supply of property leading to pent-up demand. As subsidies are rolled back, supply and demand normalise and if population growth remains low, property price growth may well come back to ‘normal’ levels. And despite the RBA not expecting to raise interest rates until at least 2024, some economists are pointing to the low unemployment figures to predict that interest rates may begin to rise by the end of 2022. There is also growing speculation that the RBA and APRA will lift lending standards (e.g. requiring lower loan to valuation ratios) in order to rein in galloping price growth. …as did share markets Global markets performed strongly over the quarter with many setting record highs. Locally the S&P/ASX200 rose 7.7%, beating the MSCI All-Country World Equity Index, which was up 6.9%. Tech shares were back in the lead with the NASDAQ gaining 11.2%, while the S&P500 rose steadily to gain 8.6%. The Aussie dollar fell slightly against the major currencies weakening late in the quarter following talk that the next move in US interest rates may be up. Also… – Workers receiving the minimum wage will see a boost to their pay packets from July, with the minimum wage rising by 2.5% to $772.60 per week or $20.33 per hour. – Most people will see the superannuation guarantee (SG) payment from their employers rise by 0.5% to 10% of normal wages. This is one step on the path to raising the SG to 12% by 2025. – According to Credit Suisse, nearly one in ten Australians are now millionaires. Twenty years ago the figure was less than 1%. Of course a million dollars today doesn’t have the buying power it did 20 years ago, but only Switzerland has more millionaires per capita than we do. – Massive infrastructure projects and home renovation booms have caused a global shortage of building materials. An indicator, perhaps, that some COVID-19 stimulus measures have been a tad overdone?   The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

Super in your 20s: Boring? Doesn’t have to be!

Super in your 20s: Boring? Doesn’t have to be!

Updated on Education, Superannuation

Superannuation is for the oldies, right? In some ways that’s true, but even in your twenties there are good reasons to take a bit more interest in your super. The average 25-year-old has around $10,000 in super, but the decisions you make now, even with relatively small sums of money, could earn you hundreds of thousands of extra dollars over your working life. Are you getting any? Earn more than $450 in any given month? Then every three months your employer should be paying 9.5% of that into your super fund. Usually you can choose your fund; if you don’t, it gets paid into a super fund of your employer’s choice. If you don’t know if your super is being paid, or the fund it’s being paid into, ask your employer. If you think you’re missing out, search ‘unpaid super’ on the tax office website (ato.gov.au) to see what you can do. This is your money. Where have you got it? Had more than one job? If you have a lot of little super accounts the money can disappear in a puff of fees and insurance premiums. Simple fix – combine your super into one account. Is it working for YOU? Your money is going to be stuck in super for a long time, so you want it to be working hard for you. Most funds offer a range of investment choices and some will do better than others. What do you want? Buying a new car. Travelling, Having fun. Let’s face it, there are lots more exciting things to do with your money than sticking it into super. The choice is yours but think about this: If Mum and Dad retired this year, they would need a minimum of around $61,909 per year to enjoy themselves. If that doesn’t sound like much now, by the time YOU retire inflation could have pushed that annual amount to around $214,248. That means you will need to have at least $3.71 million in savings! Sure you’ve got 40-plus years but that’s still a lot of money to save up! It can be done if you start early enough – and you don’t need to miss out on enjoying life now. Starting early and adding a bit extra when you can makes a big difference. Let’s work on another 40 years before you can retire. If you start now by making an extra post-tax contribution of just 1% of your annual income to super, ($350 from a $35,000 salary – and the government could add to that with a co-contribution) at an 8% investment return could add an extra $149,000 to your retirement fund. If you wait 20 years before starting to make that extra contribution, you’ll only get a boost of $49,000. $100,000 less! Continuing this small extra contribution as your salary increases will turbo boost your super fund balance. Imagine your retirement party?! So, still find super boring? That’s okay; you’re not alone. But instead of finding the time to organise all this yourself, contact us today and we will review your current super, any insurance required, the investment choices and prepare a strategy to get your super into shape – then you can get back to enjoying life!   The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

Why millennials should be mapping their retirement today

Why millennials should be mapping their retirement today

Education, Retirement, Superannuation

While millennials have for decades been treated like ‘the children of Neverland, who never grew up’, reality is fast catching up with this generation, who are now young adults between the ages of 24 and 40. Like generations before them, they are now buying, or at least trying to buy, homes and starting families of their own. And with this, the stark reality is that their retirement is looming just around the corner in the early years of 2050. For all too many, planning for their retirement is just something they don’t want to face. But the reality is that the sooner they start ‘mapping’ or preparing for their retirement, the better off they will be. According to Investopedia, if you are a 26-year-old millennial, you should aim over the next four years to have at least one year’s worth of income in your superannuation fund. If you are a 40-year-old millennial, you should already have three times your annual income in super. They suggest millennials should contribute at least 15 per cent of their gross salary, including the 10 per cent compulsory super guarantee contribution, to superannuation each year if they have any chance of achieving a secure retirement. This seems a pipe dream for Marion, who is 29 and earns $95,000 a year as a successful professional accountant. While her employer contributes 10.5 per cent of her income to super, she has less than $100,000 in super, and is more focused on boosting her non-super savings of $75,000, so she can buy a small apartment. She is not alone. Most millennials, burdened by HECS debts and increasingly casual employment arrangements, will find the need to boost their super contributions a challenge, especially as most millennials, like Marion, are also struggling to save a deposit for an ever more expensive home of their own. They know they will live longer than previous generations and that health and living costs will be much greater for them in retirement, while social security entitlements will be much less than what their grandparents received. Nonetheless, when asked, millennials want to retire earlier than previous generations and are looking for a different type of retirement. One where they can travel more while still enjoying doing so and keep working on a casual part-time basis, but only if they enjoy the work. All of this means that amongst all the competing demands on their time and money, superannuation has to become part of the landscape of Neverland. For Marion, it has meant searching for a better superannuation fund with lower fees and better investment options while scaling back her plans to buy an apartment and perhaps relying more on the Bank of Mum and Dad to help her do so. As previous generations have done, millennials need to take control of their superannuation, and the sooner, the better. The first step is to consolidate any multiple super accounts into one and then, wherever possible, boost their contributions to the magic 15 per cent mark. Happily, most millennials, including those who are self-employed, will have a super fund and will only need to add an extra 5 per cent to take their total contributions to 15 per cent of their prevailing salary. Then they can leave compound interest to work its magic and, like a snowball rolling down a hillside, build the balance within their super. It’s then a matter of working closely with our advisers who can ensure your superannuation stays on track and help you to achieve the best possible outcomes when you do start thinking seriously about retiring.   The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.