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Struggling with Behavioural Questions in Interviews?
They are the most common and also the toughest for many candidates.
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They are the most common and also the toughest for many candidates.
This free E-book shows you how to answer them with confidence.
Career Reshaped Episode 27: 80% of Jobs Go to Referrals?! Career Hacks for 2025
What if staying ahead in your career isn’t about mastering every new trend but understanding how the landscape is changing around you?
In this episode of Career Reshape, Pauline dives into the top career trends shaping 2025—from AI-driven recruitment tools and the return of experienced workers to the rise of hybrid work models. She breaks down how these shifts are transforming job searching and career development, especially in Australia’s evolving market.
You’ll learn why upskilling is no longer optional, how short-term goals can make a big impact, and why personalizing your resume every time you apply can set you apart. Pauline also discusses the power of networking, revealing that 80% of jobs are found through connections, not just job boards.
This episode is perfect for anyone aiming for a promotion, planning a career change, or simply wanting to stay competitive in a fast-moving world. It’s a practical guide to future-proofing your career with real-world strategies and advice that give you confidence to take control of your next move.
If you’re ready for clear insights and actionable tips on navigating the changing job market, this episode will help you reshape your career with intention and clarity.
🎧 Tune in for a fresh perspective on what it takes to thrive in 2025 and beyond.
Discussion Overview
Today’s workplace is fast-changing and diverse, and mastering leadership along with emotional intelligence helps you connect better, manage stress, and navigate different personalities smoothly. These skills foster stronger relationships and clearer communication, making your work environment more positive and productive. Additionally, emerging AI technologies are beginning to support leadership development and emotional intelligence by offering tools that enhance self-awareness and empathy. Understanding this evolving role of AI can help you stay ahead, leveraging new resources to grow personally and professionally.
The episode suggests that leaders should take time to learn what truly motivates younger employees, which often includes purpose-driven work, opportunities for growth, and meaningful feedback. Communication should be clear, frequent, and authentic, avoiding overly formal or hierarchical styles. Creating an inclusive environment that values diversity of thought and encourages collaboration is also key. Additionally, offering flexibility, such as remote work options and work-life balance, aligns with younger workers’ priorities and helps sustain motivation.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) enables leaders to recognize and manage their own emotions as well as empathize with their team members’ feelings. This skill builds stronger relationships based on trust and respect. Leaders with high EQ are better equipped to handle conflicts, provide constructive feedback, and inspire their teams. The episode emphasizes that EQ is not just a soft skill but a critical leadership competency that drives employee satisfaction and business outcomes.
Vulnerability in leadership means being open about challenges, admitting mistakes, and showing genuine care. This authenticity helps break down barriers and creates psychological safety where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and concerns without fear of judgment. The episode points out that vulnerability fosters deeper connections and trust, which in turn boosts team morale and creativity. Leaders who model vulnerability encourage a culture where learning and growth are prioritized.
A key challenge is the variation in work styles, communication preferences, and values across generations. For example, older employees might value stability and face-to-face communication, while younger ones might prefer flexibility and digital channels. These differences can lead to misunderstandings or frustration. The episode advises leaders to practice empathy and patience, facilitate open dialogue, and create opportunities for intergenerational mentoring. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, leaders can harness the strengths of all generations for a more cohesive team.
Podcast Transcript:
| Time | Transcript |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | welcome back to Career Reshaped your go-to source for career advice HR |
| 00:06 | insight and job searching strategies in Australia i am Pauline and today we are |
| 00:13 | diving into the biggest career trends shaping 2025 from AIdriven recruitment |
| 00:22 | to the evolving hybrid working model so whether you are job hunting looking for |
| 00:27 | a promotion or just want to stay ahead this episode is for you hey it's Natasha |
| 00:35 | and I'm Pauline we're so pumped to bring you even bigger and better stuff this |
| 00:39 | season 2 of Career Reshaped we've got new guests free master classes and all |
| 00:45 | the good vibes you'll only find here so don't forget to hit subscribe follow us |
| 00:50 | on Spotify at careersheshaped and check us out on Instagram at |
| 00:56 | my.career.angels so let's talk about the future of HR and workplaces in Australia |
| 01:04 | this is not a secret companies are now using AIdriven tools to source |
| 01:09 | candidates to predict employee trends and in-house workplace productivity i |
| 01:15 | have spoken about AI multiple times now on this channel and I'm here to let you |
| 01:22 | know that it's not going anywhere it's only going to get stronger and a lot |
| 01:29 | more weaving into our everyday lives so if you are job hunting understanding how |
| 01:37 | I impacts the hiring process is crucial the more that you know the better and |
| 01:46 | easier it will be for you to stay ahead and use AI as an asset to support your |
| 01:54 | entire application process another aspect of the future that you need to |
| 02:00 | think about is the aging population are we now retiring at 65 no in fact that |
| 02:08 | the older population is working longer and longer |
| 02:13 | now this is driven by two aspects one is because they have to it is expensive out |
| 02:19 | there and we need to make money so we actually are forced to work more and for |
| 02:24 | many more years the other side is that there are employment opportunities for |
| 02:30 | the aging population companies are now valuing experience and skills and they |
| 02:37 | are using a lot more because they can see that the new generation coming in |
| 02:43 | need that mentorship and leadership in place and they are not getting |
| 02:50 | that on their own and the last part of the future that I want to discuss is the |
| 02:56 | hybrid working environment now I'm not here to debate whether hybrid work is |
| 03:00 | here to stay but it is how best to make it work work for you and the |
| 03:07 | organization not all but many employers are shifting their focus and measuring |
| 03:14 | productivity from presence to actually outcomes and results having said that |
| 03:21 | though there are a lot of companies that still will like to see the employees |
| 03:25 | coming in so for them to create environments that foster learning and |
| 03:31 | collaboration is key to get these employees back in so it's up to you to |
| 03:37 | decide what kind of environment you're looking for now hybrid is here to stay |
| 03:44 | it's not really going anywhere but how companies are shifting their approach to |
| 03:49 | get you back in is different hopefully the company you work for or any future |
| 03:54 | organization that you do step into is going to be one that's going to support |
| 03:58 | your professional growth rather than just focus on the work you're bringing |
| 04:04 | in so now let's talk about the career advancement strategies for 2025 you need |
| 04:12 | to define your career goals success looks different for everyone so whether |
| 04:18 | that is a promotion a career switch or simply just skill building clarity is |
| 04:27 | important my recommendation is to take your time to think about what is your |
| 04:33 | short and long-term goals remember that long-term goals can and will change over |
| 04:40 | time that is why it's important to also |
| 04:46 | because we are not really living in the future we are living today so for you to |
| 04:53 | focus on what you want in the next 6 to 12 months is just as important as what |
| 04:59 | you want in the next 5 years once you have that goal in place then you can |
| 05:04 | start putting in those action steps to get those goals moving |
| 05:11 | make sure that the goals that you put in place are measurable and achievable and |
| 05:18 | not something that is going to burn you out cause you stress and anxiety so |
| 05:24 | break your goals up in small bite-sized pieces it doesn't mean that you need to |
| 05:32 | take three weeks to do one tiny baby goal it just means that you got to do |
| 05:37 | this little goal first and tick this box before you get to this box and by the |
| 05:42 | end of the week you probably achieved one big chunk of your |
| 05:46 | overall goal that way that is achievable and not overwhelming so in |
| 05:54 | 2025 the next thing I want to talk about is upskilling this is non-negotiable ai |
| 05:59 | digital literacy and leadership skills are essential online courses |
| 06:05 | certifications and mentorship programs can boost your career prospects also |
| 06:10 | need to look at these skills that AI can't give you such as communication |
| 06:17 | critical thinking and problem solving these are skills that are in fact |
| 06:22 | missing in Australia in a lot of organizations and industries and these |
| 06:28 | are the skills that going to get you ahead so if you are not the best |
| 06:34 | communicator or you're not really great at critical thinking and analytical |
| 06:40 | analysis then perhaps these short courses and could help |
| 06:46 | you expand your mind to look at things in a different way the last point in |
| 06:51 | this segment that I want to talk about is |
| 06:54 | networking networking matters more than ever i do not care what others tell you |
| 07:00 | that networking is out or the way we network is is out like no networking is |
| 07:08 | essential 80% of jobs are filled through a network think about that let that |
| 07:14 | simmer for a little bit just sit with that for a moment 80% of jobs are filled |
| 07:21 | through a network that means that when you are cold applying you only have a |
| 07:27 | 20% chance of getting that job versus a referral so how do you get these |
| 07:34 | referrals how do you get these networks happening the combination of traditional |
| 07:38 | and AI do come together you now have an expanded way of meeting people you got |
| 07:47 | to take advantage of this first connect with the people that you already know |
| 07:52 | and find out who they areworked with who do they know optimize your LinkedIn i'm |
| 07:59 | going to keep saying that no matter where you catch me no matter what time |
| 08:04 | of the day you catch me I'm going to tell you the same thing linkedin is |
| 08:09 | essential there is a world of networks and prospects on that platform so if you |
| 08:14 | know how to use it right you will be able to quickly get |
| 08:21 | ahead and connect with the right people who will open doors a world that will |
| 08:27 | open a world for you and the last segment I want to talk about is job |
| 08:33 | searching and interview tips finding the right job |
| 08:39 | 46% of Australian job seekers won't work for a company that doesn't align with |
| 08:46 | their values so that's just under half of us are very picky about who we work |
| 08:53 | for and as we should be please research the company that you are going to work |
| 09:00 | for before you even apply i highly recommend that you |
| 09:05 | personalize your resume to the job role now that takes time sometimes it might |
| 09:11 | take you 10 minutes sometimes it may take you half an hour you do not want to |
| 09:16 | invest time in personalizing your application attending the interviews |
| 09:22 | only then to find out that the company doesn't align with your views and values |
| 09:27 | a quick search will open you up to understanding exactly what the company |
| 09:34 | stands for and what it will be like working there there are plenty of |
| 09:38 | employee reviews out there for you to learn about what it's like working there |
| 09:43 | without working there plus you can jump on the company website look at their |
| 09:47 | visions missions check to see if there's any articles written about them do they |
| 09:52 | have a good reputation out there what is being said out there by the public once |
| 09:58 | you know that yes this is the company I want to work for then go for gold really |
| 10:03 | put in that extra energy to get seen by them and to have your chance to shine in |
| 10:10 | front of them well that is it for me today i hope that this has been |
| 10:16 | insightful that you have learned a little bit about the future of careers |
| 10:21 | of 2025 and what it is that you need to do to stand out so just to recap you |
| 10:28 | need to get cozy with AI you need to upskill you need to network and you need |
| 10:36 | to do your research well that's a wrap as they say in Hollywood and if you have |
| 10:42 | found this helpful and valuable then please do follow subscribe and share |
| 10:49 | this with your friends don't g gatekeep this information and let's keep the |
| 10:53 | conversation going follow me on our socials for more career insight where we |
| 11:00 | post daily well until next time stay ahead stay ambitious and keep growing |
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