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Lana McMurdo | Career Strategist

@cloudninecareers_

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For high achievers who know they’re capable of more.
90K Pay Rises | 400+ Clients
119+ 5 ⭐️ Reviews
10Yrs HR & Recruitment->Career Strategist

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⚡️How to nail your Selection criteria responses⚡️

You’ll want to SAVE this one for later.

1. Always start by analysing the advertisement and job description of the role you’re applying for.

Review the selection criteria and try to work out the key competencies that each is asking of you.

For example is it communication skills, is it teamwork, is it project management, or is it something else?

2. Start with an opening statement for each selection criteria response, detailing your experience with the capability they are keen for you to address.

3. Always SHOW and tell. Once you’ve introduced your statement (tell), you need to then show how you did something with a specific example. Use the STAR method to structure your sentences:

S - situation
T - task
A - action
R - result

Nail these three steps, and you’re on your way to increasing your chances to get the interview!

Was this helpful? Share with someone who needs to hear this.

Follow for more career tips ⚡️
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#selectioncriteria #coverletterservices #resumehacks #interviewskillstraining #careerconfidence #coverletterwriting #coverletters #interviewcoach #interviewpreparation #careerhelp #careerstrategy by @cloudninecareers_

Hi there, I’m so glad you made it here. I’m Lana McMurdo your Career Strategist✨

Chances are, you’re here as you’re a corporate professional who undervalues their skills and experience, you’re ambitious to do more, and you’re ready for the expedited pathway to career clarity and your dream role.

New here? Let’s get into my career story:

➡️ 10+ yrs across HR & recruitment
➡️ reviewed thousands of resumes, led hundreds of interviews, made hiring decisions and saw exactly how they were made.
➡️ wrote the job ads, position descriptions and selection criteria
➡️ selected as 1/12 from 220 HR profs to create position description templates for a 12000 person workforce, becoming an expert on how these are created bringing a unique perspective to strategic job applications.
➡️ coached hiring managers on how to write position descriptions (and also negotiated ridiculous expectations out of them, yes, like asking for 5 yrs experience for an entry level role).

And now, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing over >400 clients believe in and step into their value :
💰salary increases up to 90k
👶🏽promotions after parental leave
💰💰100% salary increases
⏳landing back to back interviews after 10 year career breaks
🧳Landing government roles without government experience
And more

And, I’ve also been there too:

➡️ Landed my first HR role (a year) before graduating from my degree (and yes there was an internal candidate I was competing with)
➡️ Negotiated a payrise in my first corporate job, for myself and my two counterparts.
➡️ Got the 6 figure salary by 25.
➡️ Pivoted sectors 4x including into tech, yes there was table tennis, and I did go as a troll doll to the Xmas party, and later higher education, consulting and public service.
➡️ Landed a role with over 1000 applicants in the toughest job market, and negotiated a payrise with it too.
➡️ Transitioned into public sector and negotiated top‑of‑band salary on entry, and permanency within 12 months.

Ready to move forward in your career?

Grab your Free Strategy Session at the link in my bio. by @cloudninecareers_

✨Third ‘pinch me’ moment of 2025 😱

It was absolutely wild to see Cloud Nine Careers named a finalist in the @localbusinessawards_ !!! 🤩

A huge thank you to my amazing community of clients, this recognition represents the heart of why this business started, to make a real difference in people’s lives, every day.⚡️

Thank you to our community that has supported us every step of the way 🙌🏽

Congratulations to all the incredible finalists and amazing local businesses doing great things - GO YOU!!

#ThankYou #LocalBusinessAwards #BusinessAwards #Finalist #LocalBusinessAwards2025 #LocalBusinessAwardsFinalist2025#CareerCoachCanberra #CareerCoachingAustralia #CareerCoach #CareerChange #CareerDevelopment by @cloudninecareers_

I know it’s tempting to apply for roles at a lower level 🥵 but that’s not the answer to this job market.

Getting your confidence back is, and here’s how:

SAVE this for when that confidence is shaky, or for when you’re applying for your next role.

Maybe you’re hearing the job market is ruthless, and you’re starting to apply for roles at a lower level.

but the problem is, you know you’re capable of more, so when you get ghosted or rejected for that role, the hit to the confidence is steeper.

Before you apply for your next job in this market - It’s time to remember your achievements, and rebuild that confidence.

Here’s how:

1️⃣ Borrowed confidence - Reach out to a colleague you enjoyed working with, and ask them what they valued most about working with you.

2️⃣ Start tracking your achievements at work or in past roles. These don’t have to be major, they just have to be something you’re proud of accomplishing.

3️⃣ Ask for feedback on your applications, even when you get a generic response, and press for something tailored. Even if the human hasn’t seen your resume, this might prompt them to take a look.

If you’re stuck in your job search, comment ‘Career’ to learn exactly what’s holding you back.

Share this with a friend who needs to hear this & follow for more ✨

#careertips #worklifebalance #corporatecareers #jobsearch #careerstrategy

Not tailored advice by @cloudninecareers_

Send a voice note instead of a resume? It’s a h*ll yes from me.

I’ve now seen multiple people and hiring managers posting about no longer wanting to see resumes, and spoken to hiring managers about what makes a good fit recently, and they no longer care about the piece of paper.

One post even said - send me a voice note, a 2 minute video intro, something you built with Claude or a poem instead, get creative.

It’s about who you are as a person, whether you’re willing to learn, your attitude, what you actually care about and whether you’re going to be a culture fit.

So, I give resumes 6-18 months before they’re dead, and if they’re still around it’ll just be a formality. (Government will keep them for a bit longer)

So I want your thoughts, if not a resume, what would you do?

- a voice note
- a two minute intro video
- a Claude project
- a resume website

#killtheresume #jobinterview #careeradvice #careercoach #worklifebalance

Not tailored advice. by @cloudninecareers_

We don’t do self doubt here, only self belief.

It be like that sometimes.

Only my paying clients get this version of me, if you know, you know 🏆

Share with a friend that needs to hear this.

My clients know I’m their biggest cheerleader

and when you start to doubt yourself, you know I’ll be in your corner.

Follow @cloudninecareers_ for more

#careeradvice #careerchange #jobinterview #jobsearch #jokereel by @cloudninecareers_

A toxic job takes more than just your energy.

It steals your confidence too

and the longer you stay in the toxic role, the quicker your confidence takes a hit and you start to doubt your self more

and your new role gets further and further out of reach.

But if you can’t leave just yet - here’s what helps.

Share this with a friend who needs to hear this.

- Draft your resignation later, on paper only, privately - date it ending 6, 12, 18 months from now.

This alone can make you feel like you’ve taken a step to the next step.

- Talk to people in your network - your network are your net worth. Just start conversations, you don’t need to have an agenda. Sometimes the right opportunity will present itself.

- Build your achievements list - a toxic role can strip you of your confidence at work - start to build your evidence bank of achievements, so when you are ready to leap, you aren’t undervaluing yourself.

- work is work, it doesn’t have to be fun - a slight reframe can help shift your mindset and minimise the impacts of your toxic role.

Stuck in your job search? DM me ‘Career’ to discover what’s holding you back.

#careeradvice #careerbuilder #millenialcareers #toxicjob #careercoach

Not tailored advice by @cloudninecareers_

Thinking about passing up a job offer for loyalty?

But first - Share this with a friend who needs to hear this.

Put simply? We’re all replaceable and business is business.

Gone are the days when “sticking with the company” was considered a career virtue. The truth? Making your move is really just business, and we often expect high-performers to be in demand 💼

🔑 Key reasons why loyalty is a thing of the past:

Job Security is Gone – Layoffs and restructures happen faster than we can blink. No job is forever, and we are all quite easily replaceable in our roles.

Value Yourself First – The best investment you can make is in your own growth, not someone else’s bottom line. 📈

Flexibility > Stagnation – Opportunities to learn, grow, and change roles are more accessible than ever before.

Employers Are Expecting More, And Payrises Aren’t Quite Meeting Inflation – Being agile with your career can be helpful to ensure you are receiving the appropriate market rate for your skills and experience.

So, here’s the new mantra: Focus on your growth. Build your network. Keep your options open - It’s just business 🤝🔄
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Career transition, resume writer, career coach, career coach Canberra, ATS compliant resume, selection criteria, career coach Australia, career tips, career help, job application tips, toxic jobs, toxic work culture

This reel is general and does not constitute individual or tailored advice. by @cloudninecareers_

Burnout starts at 100%, and setting yourself the high performer trap.

Work life balance starts with 80%.

Save this for next time you find yourself setting the High Performer Trap.

If you’re a high performer in a corporate job with no work life balance, no matter how many times you’ve tried, you’ve probably found yourself in the high performer trap

and unfortunately, also set it yourself, ready to catch you in 3 months of starting a new job.

Next time you’re the preferred candidate and start a new role, think about this:

You just went through a very competitive recruitment process, so no, you don’t need to now make sure the company knows it was the right choice…

because they already put you through multiple stages.

This isn’t about underperforming, or not trying your best.

It’s starting a new role at your 80% instead of 100%, let yourself be the beginner even if you’re the expert, and to give yourself room to grow, to 100% - and now you’re managing expectations, your own, and your colleagues.

Chances are high you’ll also learn so much more on the way, that when you get to your 100%, it’ll only feel like 90.

Follow me, if you prefer working smarter not harder, for more career strategy made simple, helping you not only land your dream role & get hired faster but also thrive and fall in love with work again.

DM me ‘Career’ or comment ‘Career’ below, and discover what’s holding you back in your job search.

#worklifebalance #corporatecareer #careeradvice #corporateburnout #highperformer

Not tailored advice. by @cloudninecareers_

Send a voice note instead of a resume? It’s a h*ll yes from me.

I’ve now seen multiple people and hiring managers posting about no longer wanting to see resumes, and spoken to hiring managers about what makes a good fit recently, and they no longer care about the piece of paper.

One post even said - send me a voice note, a 2 minute video intro, something you built with Claude or a poem instead, get creative.

It’s about who you are as a person, whether you’re willing to learn, your attitude, what you actually care about and whether you’re going to be a culture fit.

So, I give resumes 6-18 months before they’re dead, and if they’re still around it’ll just be a formality. (Government will keep them for a bit longer)

So I want your thoughts, if not a resume, what would you do?

- a voice note
- a two minute intro video
- a Claude project
- a resume website

#killtheresume #jobinterview #careeradvice #careercoach #worklifebalance

Not tailored advice. by @cloudninecareers_

If you’re coming home from work and feeling too burnt out to enjoy your hobbies or spend time with your family, you might not be recognising the signs of a toxic workplace and a workplace that’s draining your energy.

Most people don’t even know they’re in a toxic workplace, until they move into one that isn’t.

Share this with a friend who needs to start taking their lunch breaks, and follow for more.

#careeradvice #careeropportunities #worklifebalance #toxicworkplace #careerwomen #jobinterview by @cloudninecareers_

Your job title doesn’t define your success. This is your friendly reminder that, deciding not to climb the corporate ladder doesn’t mean you aren’t ambitious.

It simply means you’re choosing differently to what we used to define as success.

If you’re stuck in your job search, comment ‘Career’ to learn exactly what’s holding you back.

Share this with a friend who needs to hear this & follow for more ✨

#careertips #worklifebalance #corporatecareers #jobsearch #careerstrategy

Not tailored advice by @cloudninecareers_