General Discussion > Employment and Careers
The Employment Advice Thread
walkec:
Hi everyone,
With the class of 2014 done and dusted for the year, many of the AN are documenting their employment struggles on the Class of 2014 thread. As a 2014 graduate myself, I thought it would be a good idea to make a thread with advice for how to apply for jobs, interviews and general resume tips. So a note to mods - consider stickying this if it goes well.
Some general pointers about how to go about applying for jobs
-Apply anywhere if you don't have experience and don't waste your time applying for jobs that require experience. I applied for 32 jobs and had 5 interviews before I got my current job. I think the reason for this was that I was far too fussy as a 15 year old with no experience. When I started at my job, I was washing dishes for 5 hours straight, but in my 3 years I've been there, I've worked my way up and I'm now a barista and I'm working towards being able to open/close/run the store by myself. It's better to take something less desirable to get some experience and money under your belt and move on later than to still continue to be unemployed. Don't just look at big companies if you have no experience. Working in a small business can be a good way to get some experience and then it can make it easier for you to move on 6 months or so down the track.
-Get a couple of people to proof read your resume and read it aloud for clarity
-Dress the part. As someone who has taken many resumes over my 3 years at my job, I am not particularly inclined to tell my manager there's another resume if the person looks sloppy/is in their pyjamas/wears a low cut top/has visible tattoos etc. Harsh but I'm sure many other employers would have similar standards. Wear your hair up, minimal makeup and jewellery, no sneakers, a nice pair of pants/longish skirt and a nice top should suffice if you're female, or a collared shirt with nice trousers and polished shoes if you're male. This may seem a little over the top but first impressions do count.
-Don't lie about your availability
-Be honest
-Don't be generic in what you write on your resume. We see heaps of resumes from people in high school saying "I'm a team player", "I am reliable and trustworthy". To be honest, generic statements make me think that you haven't put thought into your application and I have just received a generic resume from a person who wants a job after year 12, over summer etc.
-Take responsibility. If you get offered an interview - turn up 10 minutes early, have a list of questions to ask (but don't ask about the pay until offered the position). Same goes if you get a trial shift or the job - start 5 minutes early. This shows you're organised and enthusiastic and don't sign off straight away until the manager or person in charge gives you the okay, especially if you're finishing a task. If it's 2 pm and that's the end of your shift but there's still 3 pizzas to make, say to the manager/whoever is in charge "did you want me to stay to finish doing these?" It shows that you're committed to the task at hand, and it helps to build rapport with your boss so they can cut you some slack when necessary (especially helpful around exam time).
- Keep trying. I actually handed in my resume to where I work twice before I even got an interview, and then I still didn't get the job. I then got another interview because there was another position and I was lucky enough to know a person working there, and then I got the job. Keep trying - it really will pay off.
How do I find jobs to apply for?
-Many companies are now using online applications in their recruitment process. Just search for the company you're looking for in Google (e.g. Woolworths careers) and then proceed through to the online recruitment site. Usually you have to make an account and upload your resume, which allows you to easily apply for other positions with the same company when they arise.
- Seek and other employment sites. Many people apply for jobs through Seek, so it can be difficult to land an interview with the sheer number of people who apply for positions advertised on there. For this reason, I recommend trying lesser known websites/resources like Gumtree and your Classifieds in the local paper for positions that less people may know about. Many small businesses also advertise in their shop windows and on boards in community centres, supermarkets etc.
- Word of mouth. I think this is underrated. The best way I think to get an interview is to have your friend give their boss a good word about you. If your friend is a reliable and good worker, their boss may be more likely to give you a go because they may think you will also be loyal and trustworthy. So tell your friends you're looking for a job. Even if they seek something advertised that might suit you, they can tell you about it.
So I hope this helps somewhat! Feel free to ask questions and I'll get back to you :)
DJA:
This is some great advice - thanks Walkec :)
ealam2:
Again, thank you very much, walkec! :D
Just wanted to ask what are the do's and don't s of being in an interview like what to wear, what kind of questions we should ask and regarding body language?
Also, do you recommend applying online first then visit the store personally and hand in the resume?
Thanks! :)
walkec:
--- Quote from: ealam2 on November 26, 2014, 02:09:53 pm ---Again, thank you very much, walkec! :D
Just wanted to ask what are the do's and don't s of being in an interview like what to wear, what kind of questions we should ask and regarding body language?
Also, do you recommend applying online first then visit the store personally and hand in the resume?
Thanks! :)
--- End quote ---
As a general rule of thumb, work pants and a nice top should be okay for an interview. Ballet flats if you're female and dress shoes if you're male. Sometimes suitable attire can depend on the position you're applying for, so there are always exceptions to this. Tie long hair neatly off your face too and keep any makeup to a minimum.
Some questions you might consider asking...
- Is there a uniform requirement for the position?
- Are my hours fixed (part time) or flexible and variable? (casual)
- Is there opportunities to participate in additional training or to gain qualifications within the position? (think Cert 3 in Retail or Hospitality etc)
I don't necessarily recommend doing one over the other. By being open and not selective, you increase the amount of job openings available to you!
ealam2:
Thanks, walkec! :) I meant if it would be good to do both- online and personally.
Also, when printing out resume, does it matter if it's back to back if there are two pages or should it be printed on two separate sheets of paper?
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