LinkedIn News Australia

Have you ever taken — or thought about taking — a career break? In Australia, 47% more women than men have a career break listed on their LinkedIn profile, new data shows. According to the latest edition of the LinkedIn Workforce Report, 1.2% of women have listed career breaks on their profile compared with 0.7% of men. Full-time parenting was the top career break type among Australian women (36%) — more than four times the share of men at 8.1%. Raising children also represented the longest-lasting career break type for both women and men. Career and leadership coach Claire Seeber says the stigma around career breaks is starting to change. "Employers are seeing the benefits of renewed energy, broader perspective, enhanced curiosity, and stronger creative capabilities in people who have had that change of scenery. Not to mention, for many employers, providing a career break can be a great retention tool," she says. According to Seeber, organisations can support workers returning from a break with flexible work arrangements, upskilling opportunities and re-entry programs. "When organisations actively support workers in this way, they'll not only attract top talent, but they'll also retain it." For those re-entering the workforce, Seeber's advice is to highlight the skills and resilience developed during the time off. She adds, "Employers respect honesty and confidence when we own our story and situation, instead of hiding it or burying it in our resumes and hoping no one notices, so be loud, proud and own your learnings." Watch the video to find out how Australian women and men differ when it comes to career breaks then let us know in the comments if you've taken extended time off work. ✍️ Brendan Wong 📊 Danielle Kavanagh-Smith (LinkedIn's Economic Graph)

Welcome to The Wrap-Up — a summary of the day's top news and views. Today, we’re discussing why ChatGPT is searching for you, the growing number of climate-motivated moves and tax-dodging companies. Also, Disney will be the new home of the Grammys. 💡 Environmental Manager and Strategic Planner Rebecca Dawson says climate risk reduction should be about more than saving immediate lives — https://lnkd.in/gJkFKTUf Weigh in on any of these top stories in the comments. By Cayla Dengate #TheWrapUp #Australia #News 📰 Sources:  ChatGPT unveils web search (CNBC) https://lnkd.in/g-YhDvaV Climate movers (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)) https://lnkd.in/gvJMKWsj Tax-dodging big companies (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)) https://lnkd.in/gfsHBF_5 Disney inks Grammys broadcast deal (The Wall Street Journal) https://lnkd.in/g-yS8U3U

Hiring managers only spend five to seven seconds looking at resumes, says career expert Paul Swanwick. He writes on LinkedIn that if you want to ensure you get noticed, you have to apply for the right position, clearly specify your company name, job title and dates, and highlight your achievements and outcomes. What are your tips for making sure a resume stand out? Share them in the comments below.

Is your resume just a shopping list of responsibilities? It could cost you job opportunities. "Employers don't want to know what you were meant to do in your role, but what you actually did," says early careers and learning specialist Sabrina Ulis. To stand out, focus on achievements, use numbers to show impact and keep it concise. What are your tips for improving a resume? Share them in the comments below.

Want to get ahead in your career? Find a mentor, writes author Tim Duggan. "Finding a good mentor can have an extraordinary impact on your career. I wouldn’t know half the things I do today if it weren’t for the generous advice of those who went before me," he writes in The Sydney Morning Herald. Duggan's advice is to look for a mentor outside your industry and to be proactive in asking. He also suggests starting softly. "Instead of diving in headfirst and booking a year’s worth of monthly meetings, start with a quick coffee to confirm the chemistry, and then work up from there," he says. Do you have a mentor? How has it helped your career? Share your thoughts in the comments below. By Brendan Wong

Feel like you need to chain yourself to your desk to get anything done? The opposite could be the key to better focus. When paleontologist Sally Hurst has a packed schedule, she uses an app that rewards her for taking time out — replicating The Pomodoro Method. "It’s where you focus for 25 minutes, have a short, five minute break and then get back into the study session,” she says. Could it work for you? Watch Hurst's video and share your take in the comments.

Need some feel-good vibes? These are the week’s best inspirational posts from LinkedIn members. Add your thoughts to the comments below, or to the posts featured. 1️⃣ The world is your career oyster Building a career while living overseas can be a challenging but also highly rewarding experience. Sustainability professional Ian de Cruz reveals the lessons he has learned after 10 years in the US as he relocates back to Australia. https://lnkd.in/dNy5Ne_a 2️⃣ Remember to be kind During a challenging period of her life, LinkedIn member Chuen Chuen Yeo was reminded that there is kindness around her. She shares her story. https://lnkd.in/dG-mqihY 3️⃣ Video: Growth is uncomfortable Startup founder and CEO Melissa Reader shares her challenges of navigating the unknown as a leader. In a video, she says that the key is embracing uncertainty and staying curious. https://lnkd.in/dvyRpWFV 4️⃣ It's OK to prioritise your family The choices we make shape our future, so it is important to make conscious ones. LinkedIn member, Prithy Narayann, chose to prioritise family over career and it led her to discover a passion for writing. https://lnkd.in/dX7gpCNf 5️⃣ Productivity isn't 24/7 As someone who wears many hats, LinkedIn member Su-Yen Wong's schedule is often packed. She reveals why she prioritises time to rest. https://lnkd.in/dRb_3yec 💡 Which of these posts resonated with you the most? Share your comments below. By Divya Pathak, Cathy Anderson, Serla R. and Brendan Wong 

Do you nap while on the clock? If so, and you work from home, you're just like one in 10 British workers who told a survey they snooze during work hours. Across the UK, this could mean 4.3 million people sleep while working, at a cost of $980 million a week in lost productivity, The Times reports. The research, done by energy drink company Reign Storm, found that naps between 3pm and 4pm were most common, while one in five 18 to 24-year-olds said they would call in sick because of tiredness. The survey of around 2,000 people also found that 3 million people quit their jobs because of negative feelings brought on by tiredness. One in six said they had argued with a colleague because they were tired. Do you think it's OK if workers nap during the work day, if they make up the time later? Vote in our poll and tell us more in the comments. By Polly Dennison and Cathy Anderson

Looking for career tips and job seeking inspiration? Here is this week’s best advice from experts on LinkedIn. 1️⃣ How to network with confidence Does meeting strangers terrify you? Public speaking coach Shiv Bhardwaj shares six networking tips that helped him have meaningful conversations with others. https://lnkd.in/ez4s89mM 2️⃣ How to sound more human Are you prone to using corporate jargon? They could make you sound robotic and risk losing connection with your audience, says communications expert Mel Loy who offers four tips on speaking better. https://lnkd.in/egAZX2Zm 3️⃣ Reframe failure Many of us fear failure, but it's necessary to make mistakes in order to succeed, writes consultant Rachel Lounds. https://lnkd.in/ecJ2ECP4 4️⃣ Growth is not linear Success in our career takes time and there will be moments of seeming inaction, according to lawyer Jahan Kalantar. https://lnkd.in/eqWUsTn8 5️⃣ True humility is true strength It's a mistake to view humility as submissive and weak. Author Megumi Miki says true humility is a sign of strong self-esteem. https://lnkd.in/eqUbPq9z   💡 What are your favourite networking tips? Share your perspective on this topic, or any other of those above, in the comments. Want advice on something specific? Let us know! By Brendan Wong

Left your phone at home by accident? You should make the most of the time to connect with others instead of being attached to your device, says Michelle Taylor✨. In a video on LinkedIn she explains how she forgot her smartphone, but chose to push on with her day and speak at a conference. She missed a call to pick up some important work but, despite this, says the day was a win. "I’m disappointed … but I am also focusing on the in between part which is what I got from being fully present at the conference," she says. What's your reaction? Would you go back for your phone? Watch the video below and share your perspective in the comments.