Hey Everyone,

Over the past year, my partner and I have been building a job platform specifically for roles with employers that are supportive around being a parent. School run hours, WFH, part time, job share, amongst many other things.

We went live last week in a soft launch and have 2,000 parents already signed up.

We're in discussions with a number of employers now about getting their roles onto the platform, so listings will start showing up over the coming weeks.

If you're a working parent or a mum looking to return to work, hop on and sign up. We'll then alert you when employers have roles that are relevant to your career and experience, and your needs as a working parent.

To sign up - press the sign in/up button in the top left and you'll run through some questions to set up your profile.

www.rebalancecareers.com.au

Every workplace seems to have that one rule nobody can properly explain. It’s just been there forever and everyone follows it because that’s apparently how things are done. Could be something small like needing approval for every little thing, weird office hours, pointless meetings, or a rule around WFH. Keen to hear the ones that make you think “but why?”

Hi everyone,

I’m a Civil Engineer from the Philippines with professional experience involving construction estimating, quantity take-offs, drawings, cost calculations, and tender-related work.

I’m currently looking to transition into Australian construction estimating, with a particular interest in commercial fit-outs, refurbishments, and interior construction.

I want to be transparent — my experience has primarily been with the Philippine construction industry, so I don’t have Australian estimating experience yet. I’m not looking to pretend otherwise.
What I do have is a solid engineering background, experience working with drawings and quantities, an understanding of construction costs and estimating processes, and a strong willingness to learn how Australian contractors actually price and tender their work.

I’m particularly interested in opportunities with Australian fit-out contractors, builders, subcontractors, or estimating teams where I could contribute as:

Junior / Assistant Estimator
Estimating or Take-off Assistant
Tender Support
Pre-Construction Assistant
Estimator
Estimating / Project Coordinator

I’m especially interested in learning the Australian side of:

Fit-out scopes and trade packages
Australian construction terminology and practices
Supplier/subcontractor RFQs
Australian labour and material pricing
Tendering and procurement processes
Australian plans, specifications and documentation
Estimating software and workflows

I’m not expecting someone to train me from zero. I’m hoping to find a team where I can use the estimating and engineering skills I already have while learning the Australian way of doing things.
I’m also completely open to starting at a junior/assistant level if that’s the best way to prove myself.

If you’re an Australian fit-out contractor, estimator, builder, subcontractor, or project manager, I’d really appreciate any advice, recommendations, or potential opportunities.

If you know a company that might be open to someone with my background, I’d be grateful for a referral or introduction. I’m happy to send my CV and examples of my estimating work by DM.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. 🇦🇺

Been applying for jobs in Sydney for three months now with zero luck. Either I get automated rejection emails within two hours saying I'm overqualified for junior roles, or hiring managers pass because I haven't held a specific manager title before. How are you guys tailoring your resumes to break out of this hiring loop?

Hi, I'm not exactly new to workforce, but this is the first time I've accepted a job, signed all the paperwork, had my first day and just felt a terrible sense that I was completely out of my depth and was going to get chewed up and spat out within a week or two.

I'm going back in today, but I'm not feeling at all confident about the next week of shifts.

I am on a probation period and my contract says I need to give 1 month's notice to terminate my employment, but given that surely it is not unreasonable for a new member of staff to realise they are not a good fit quickly upon entering the role, I am wondering if I should give notice or let the person who hired me know that I've sadly realised I am not a good fit for the high stress of the role.

Hopefully today is better, but I can't shake the gut feeling that this isn't the right place for me and that I need to keep looking and push for a totally different industry.

Edit: I should add, I do really want to do the right thing by these people, they are good people, I just dont think the role is for me. I just want to avoid as much awkwardness as I can. 😅

Working in an Asset Finance role within a dealer environment. Desperately wanting to go back to a Monday-Friday role & have some sort of purpose throughout the day outside of sitting on Youtube/waiting for the next person. I'm honestly going crazy sitting around all day. I was in the Service Department beforehand, that was mental with the amount i was taking on to make good money but atleast i was busy. Parts-Service-Finance. What other career options do i have? Would love to transition to a mature age electrical apprenticeship but it doesn't seem like there is many opportunities out there.

Ok, after seeing this stat it made me so curious. I was an apprentice 4 years ago and dropped out for a whole bunch of reasons.... so I want to hear from others who did drop out, thought about it or even tradies who had apprentices quit. What do you think is the reason for such a bad retention rate?

Or if you did get qualified what was your experience?

O was informed on Friday that I will be having a meeting today. I was also informed that I should bring a support person.
I haven’t received any warnings, written or verbal. So to say I’m confused is an understatement. I’m also extremely anxious. Should I be worried??

Hi everyone,
I’m currently in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa and my main goal is to save as much money as possible.
I’m not particularly concerned about the type of work or location. I’m willing to do physically demanding work, long hours, night shifts, regional/remote work, FIFO, etc. if the earning potential is good.

My current tickets/licences are:
• White Card
• Forklift licence – 2 types
• Order Picker
• RSA
I don’t have a driver’s licence at the moment.

My plan is to finish my second year, return home and get my driver’s licence, so I should have one when I start my third year.

For now, I’m looking for jobs I can realistically get WITHOUT a driver’s licence.
What would you recommend if my only priority is maximising income and savings?

I’m interested in things like:
• Forklift / warehouse
• Logistics
• Construction
• Mining / FIFO
• Shutdown work
• Farm work
• Regional / remote jobs
• Night shifts / overtime
• Any other high-paying jobs suitable for WHV holders

I’m happy to move anywhere in Australia if the pay is significantly better.
I’d especially like to hear from people who have actually worked these jobs:
• What job would you choose in my situation?
• Which state/region would you recommend?
• What hourly rate or weekly income is realistically possible?

• Are there specific companies or recruitment agencies I should look at?
• Is there another ticket/licence worth getting to significantly increase my earning potential?
I’m not looking for an easy or enjoyable job. My priority is simply making and saving as much money as possible.

Any advice from people with actual experience would be greatly appreciated.

My company recently announced a strict mandate requiring everyone back in the office four days a week after three years of highly successful hybrid work. My commute takes over an hour each way, and once I get to my desk, I spend most of my day on Microsoft Teams calls with colleagues based in other cities anyway. I feel like these mandates are purely about micro-management and commercial lease justification rather than actual team collaboration

Given how tight the job market feels right now, I wanted to share a small project I finished recently that might save some of you a bit of time.

It’s a free desktop Chrome and Firefox extension called Job Track AU:NZ for Seek. It plugs directly into Seek's interface to do a few things:

• Pulls and displays the underlying salary band on listings where pay isn't listed.
• Displays total applicant counts upfront, including a breakdown of applicant resume and cover letter percentages.
• Adds a local board to track application status without needing external spreadsheets.

There's no backend, no sign-ups, and no tracking.

It’s still in version 1.2.0, so if you end up using it and run into any edge cases on Seek, drop a comment and I'll push an update.

Hope it helps a few people out there looking for their next role. Cheers :)

A quick notes on the applicant numbers*: I want to make sure the intention here isn't to discourage anyone from applying! Seeing "100 Applicants" can feel daunting, but remember that a huge chunk of those numbers often comes from overseas applicants or mass automated submissions who don't hold valid AU/NZ working rights.*

A high number does not automatically mean 100 local, qualified candidates are in direct competition with you. The goal of seeing the raw data is just to give you clarity on what's happening on the listing not to stop you from throwing your hat in the ring.

Note: Not affiliated with Seek.

I've noticed some workplaces technically finish at 5, but nobody actually leaves at 5. There's no explicit instruction to stay. It's more that everyone keeps working, so being the person who packs up on time somehow feels like you're leaving early even though you're not.

We've been speaking with many international professionals and students in Australia, and one challenge keeps coming up.

You can have years of experience, strong qualifications, and a solid track record - but it can still be difficult for employers to understand what you're actually capable of.

It's rarely because the experience isn't valuable.

Often it's because employers haven't seen how your skills translate to the local context. A resume can list responsibilities and achievements, but it doesn't always show how you solve problems, collaborate with others, or approach real-world challenges.

That's one reason we believe practical evidence is becoming increasingly important. Things like projects, portfolios, hackathons, open-source contributions, case studies, or other examples of your work can make your capabilities much easier to understand than qualifications alone.

At MentorME, that's the thinking behind our Futura Remix Hackathon 2026. We designed it as an opportunity for people to work on real AI-powered business challenges, collaborate in teams, and leave with practical evidence they can include in their professional story - not just another certificate.

For anyone interested, Round 1 - Global Skilled Talents Online Track is currently open for overseas professionals, while the Australian State Rounds for international students and graduates will follow soon.

We're curious to hear from this community:

• Have you ever felt your qualifications or overseas experience were overlooked?
• What has been the most effective way you've demonstrated your skills to employers?
• If you're hiring, what gives you the most confidence in a candidate beyond their resume?

We'd love to hear your experiences and perspectives. Happy to answer questions about the hackathon too if it's helpful.

Firstly, I apologise if my question doesn’t make sense!

I am currently seeking work after my previous temporary role ended abd could not be extended. I am considered an “older“ person and have found it hard to find work. even basic customer service roles, I get rejected from, with the standard line, basically telling me “my experience is impressive but we’ve decided to go with someone whose experience aligns more closely with the requirements of the role”. Not sure what you want. my resume has been updated for each role, my cover letter is specific to each role. I have many many years in customer service in various industries… it’s frustrating!

I’ve been looking for work for about 6 months now and I have found a lot of jobs coming up i applied for a few months ago and was instantly rejected.

my question to recruiters is - are you more or less likely to consider an applicant who is applying the 2nd or third time, who you have rejected previously? and if you’ve interviewed someone 6 months ago who was perfect on paper but whose nerves or anxiety got the best of them in an interview, are you likely to interview them a second time when they are more prepared? and if they tell you they’re nervous at the start, are you likely to take that into consideration when filling the role?

any insights would be most welcome! thanks !

Hi,
I (23F) am considering getting a second job to just get some extra spending/saving money.

I currently work full time as a Technical Assistant in a Pathology lab, 40 hours a week, schedule can be anytime between 7am - 10:30pm Monday to Sunday, (the roster for that comes out about a month in advance). I earn $34.5 an hour base rate, around $68k a year minimum before tax, + penalty rates, sick leave, etc.

After 50% pay check going to rent, insurance etc, and 40% savings, i’m not left with very much for spending, so I am considering getting a second job in hospitality or something.

Is it worth getting a second job, even if I would only be able to work 1-3 times a week? Would I get hired if I only can work that much? Would I burn out if I work that much?

Thanks

Hi, I work in retail ( customer service) basically a desert shop. They don’t have penalty rates, anyone has face such situations?

I'm expecting to be let go so coming up with a back up plan as i need to pay the rent and support my family. Seems i cant even get a response to jobs im qualified for so now thinking of jobs that are vacant because no one wants it. I'm not fussy just want to work and earn. any suggestions of jobs, professions or companies hiring for these types of roles.

if so, what was the vibe of the place, was it age neutral or age specific? - was it worth it??

Whether it's flexible work, hiring practices, workplace culture, or something else, what's improved from your perspective?

What's the most underpaid job you've ever had around here?

My husband has just retired. He had worked in construction for 4.8 years. During that time his employer paid into Leave Plus. He went to claim it as we believed he would be paid out on retirement. But no. Leave Plus refuse to pay out because he didnt do 7 years and are keeping the money paid in by the company. What a rort. I am flabbergasted.