‘Rage applying’ is the latest work trend sweeping through Aussie offices

A new work trend is sweeping through our offices, with one young Aussie scoring a $50,000 raise just by doing one “rage” fuelled act.

There is another work trend gaining traction in Aussie offices, which could either lead to a massive pay boost or see employees “burning bridges”.

It is no secret that young Aussies love a work trend, with “quiet quitting”, “bare minimum Mondays” and “loud leaving” just some of the different movements that have recently taken off.

Now, the latest trend being used by Gen Z and Millennial workers is “rage applying”.

Rage applying occurs when you become so frustrated, burnt out and fed up with your job and boss that you furiously apply for as many new roles as you can.

People who rage apply may not even have any intention of leaving their current job, but jumping on LinkedIn in the office and applying to every job listing you have ever saved can feel therapeutic.

If done correctly, this trend can also have very positive outcomes.

Sydney woman Sanjna Pathania increased her wage by $50,000 when she snagged a job at a Big 4 bank after rage applying.

The situation unfolded when Ms Pathania was working at a major accounting firm as a 23-year-old.

The October, November period was typically when promotions were handed out and she was told by her superiors that she was doing well in her role and was in line for a promotion.

Sanjna Pathania scored a $50,000 salary increase after ‘rage applying’ for other jobs. Picture: @successbysanjna/TikTok

Rage applying is one of the latest trends being taken up by young Aussies in the workplace. Picture: @successbysanjna/TikTok

However, when the time came she was informed that she was no longer going to be promoted because – at the request of her boss – she had been put onto secondments at other organisations and, because of this, they claimed she wasn’t getting enough experience in specific areas.

Ms Pathania was understandably frustrated by this news, saying the situation was “totally out of her control” as she had been doing exactly what was requested by her manager.

“I was like, okay, so if that’s the case, I don’t want to stay at this organisation anymore,” she told news.com.au.

“The minute I found out that I wasn’t going get promoted, I rage applied and I responded to all the recruiters that had hit me up previously through LinkedIn.”

In the end it was through one of her secondments that Ms Pathania was offered a new job, with the hiring manager at Westpac asking her to come in for an interview.

“Within the week, I did the interview and I got the job literally the next day, [which was] within five or six days of me finding out I wasn’t going to get promoted,” she said.

But in a final twist, when she went to hand in her resignation, her boss claimed they actually were going to offer her a promotion, despite saying they wouldn’t.

Still unhappy with the way she had been treated, Ms Pathania continued with her resignation, increasing her yearly salary from $60,000 to $110,000 in the process.

As with most work trends, there are upsides and downsides to rage applying. Picture: iStock

The now 28-year-old believes the rage applying trend has been blowing up in recent months because younger workers are more comfortable speaking out or taking action if they are unhappy in their work life.

“They want to question everything and if something’s not matching their morals, their values or it doesn’t align with them, then they’re going speak up about it,” she said.

“I think that’s just how Millennials and Gen Z as well have been brought up.

“If you feel like you’re not getting recognised for your efforts at work or you’re suffering from burnout I think it’s definitely good to keep your options open stand up for yourself and find an alternative pathway.”

But be warned, rage applying can also come with its dangers, with Ms Pathania telling young Aussies that they could be burning important bridges if they go about it in the wrong way.

“It’s so important to keep your network solid and secure when you’re jumping from job to job,” she said.

“Yeah, you can rage apply, but it’s important to not burn bridges along the way as well because you might need that reference for your next job.

“As long as you’ve done the right thing at your job and you’ve gone about it the right way then it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Lauren Berry, People and Culture Manager at Employment Hero, a HR, payroll, and employee engagement platform, agrees, saying rage applying may not be the best way for fed-up workers to get the outcome they actually want.

Lauren Berry, People and Culture Manager Employment Hero, urged employees to consider other options before ‘rage applying’. Picture: Supplied

“While you may have some luck casting a wide net, bulk applying for jobs just to have an excuse to leave your current role may not be the most effective approach – and instead, it’s far more beneficial to open up a conversation, to be honest with ourselves and our workplace about why you’re having a tough time,” she told news.com.au.

“When we are in a heightened state of emotion, which is common when we are stressed, anxious, and unhappy at work, this also comes out in our own workplace interactions, so it’s important to understand what the triggers are and work through them in your current role before jumping ship.”

Ms Berry said if there is something compromising your happiness at work, then it is “crucial” that it is brought to your managers, adding that, more often than not, the situation can be resolved when more context is provided.

She also encouraged any workers that may be struggling or unhappy at work to reach out to their employee assistance program, which can be a “neutral and confidential resource” to help navigate the situation.

“Instead of applying for everything and anything just to get out of where you currently are, try to understand why it’s not working,” Ms Berry said.

“It’s true, it’s not always going to pan out well, so if it’s clear that your workplace is impacting your wellbeing, of course, look for opportunities elsewhere.

“And when you do, it’s important to set yourself up for a better position than your last, which means planning accordingly, upskilling, and ensuring your CV is up to scratch and suited to the field you’re applying for.”

Originally published as ‘Rage applying’ is the latest work trend sweeping through Aussie offices