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Life update incoming… You know how sometimes you’re technically doing the job, but it’s just not the right role for you? That’s Spud.
He’s a 2-year-old Border Collie who spent his early career on a working farm near Albany, herding sheep. He was pretty darn good at it, except he always clipped one sheep off from the group. Near enough, it seems, isn’t good enough when you’re a professional working dog. So, Spud was let go. (No PIP, no warning.) We adopted him on Australia Day — and while he may have flunked out of sheep school, he’s now thriving in his new role as our family’s Chief Distraction Officer. His responsibilities include
But here’s the career parallel I couldn’t ignore: Just because you didn’t thrive in one job doesn’t mean you’re not brilliant. Sometimes you’re not broken — you’re just in the wrong environment. And I see this all the time with professionals I work with. Smart, capable people questionning themselves for not fitting into roles, teams, or industries that were never built for how they work best. I am 100% guilty of this myself. So if you’re questioning your career right now — maybe you don’t need to reinvent yourself. Maybe you just need a different paddock. (And a few people who can see your potential beyond your last job description.) Spud has found his place, and, actually, given his ultra-chill nature, I’m looking to transition him to a new role as a volunteer canine companion in the aged care sector. Here’s to you finding yours. ~Lisa Your Q&AJob Searching Like It’s 1999: Hi Lisa, I’m a transitioning teacher with 36 years of teaching experience! But, I’ve worked in the same role since 1999 and I’m worried about being overlooked because I haven’t moved. Do you have any tips on whether or not to include 1999 in my resume? Thanks! Katie Hi Katie, A simple question you’ve thrown at me — yet here I am, already mentally unpacking half a suitcase of follow-ups. Look: employers mainly care about the last 10–15 years of your work history. That’s their sweet spot. BUT (and it’s a big but), if you just dive into detailed experience starting from 2010 or 2015 with no earlier context, it’ll look like you magically sprang into existence as a fully formed senior teacher. And let’s be real — no one buys that, not even in Disney movies. Now, I know you’re worried about looking old on paper — but weirdly, this isn’t really about age. It’s about showing progression, growth, and the fact that you didn’t just snooze through your career. And here’s the thing — when teachers tell me they’ve been in the “same role” for decades, it usually means they’ve actually done 7 different jobs under the same title. So, if you’ve had any of those shifts — different grades, subjects, committee work, leadership roles — show it. Break up the timeline a bit. Give it some shape. Tell the story. Then consolidate anything from either 2015 or 2010. If, however, you really have been Grade 2 Teacher at XYZ Primary from 1999 to Present with zero movement — well, stability is actually a selling point. Especially in a world where loyalty lasts about as long as a TikTok trend. You won’t know for sure how it’ll land until you start applying. But trust me — you’ve got more going for you than you think. Thanks for Reading ~Lisa |
