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Sussessful Job Applications: Finding Jobs: Plan, don't wish!.
Do you really wish you could get a job but don't know how to get started? When you start looking for work it pays to be organised and to have a job search plan. I mentioned the other day that we had found some jobs for Tondy to apply for almost straight away.By identifying a specific industry, and then a related industry you will narrow, and focus your job seeking efforts. Once we had identified the industry we went to some job seeking sites.
Here is a list of the best Job seeking sites Australia / New Zealand
One of the best sites to use is Alljobs , which searches MyCareer CareerOne jobsjobsjobs & JobSearch and then returns the results from all of them. This site will save a lot of time.
Recruitnet this site lets you search by companies which is a great idea for those who have targeted the industry they want to work in.
New Zealand:
As you look through them you will also see smaller job agencies that may specialise in the industry you are targeting. Make a note of them for later.
You can also search the local paper and begin to put the word out to people that you are available for work. Word of mouth is still the most common way to get work. Ring previous employers and referees and tell them you are looking for work, they often know of vacancies.
The best way to use these sites is to set up email alerts. But be specific in your searches, otherwise you will get unsuitable jobs sent to you. Focus focus focus!
Once you have your alerts set up start requesting job application packages for jobs that are similar to the one you want. This will really help you in the long run because you will get a very good idea of what employers want and pick up related information that makes your application stand out. It will help you identify gaps in skills, experience, knowledge so you can make a plan to fill them.
I have used this method personally for years to change jobs and get promotions. I am using it at the minute. When I was told about the possibility of getting a promotion a few weeks ago I immediately went online and set up some email alerts for similar positions.
Within a week I had received 3 information packages. I went through the essential and desirable criteria and compared that to my qualifications, my experience and my skills. Just make a 3 column list and write it all down, employers are looking for these 3 specific things.
Now from that I saw some specific gaps and I have been working on filling those. I also have been working out in my head the kinds of questions they may ask based on the information they send. I have been reading policy documents and making a short summary ... yawn ... to get me up to speed. Boring but do you think other applicant will take the time to do this? Not many.
Years ago I had a great mentor who helped me learn how to get ahead in my career. I was a very shy, self conscious person and no one in my family had completed high school. They all had working class, physical types of jobs. I was completely clueless about all this and had no idea about workplace unwritten 'rules' of behaviour or office politics.
She said to me that it was simple to work out how to get ahead, just look around at what everyone else was doing and do the opposite. Most people do the minimum to get a job, she made me learn how to do the maximum, and it worked. I've done a lot of interesting things and had a ball while many of the people I worked with are still in the same jobs, 25 years later! "There's no work around here, I'm too old / too tired / not qualified / lack experience etc.." hmmm...
Life is too short to waste being stuck in a rut.
OK , my mentor convinced me to apply for 6 jobs just for interview practice. It was awful! I hated it because I was not confident so I fumbled and spluttered. Felt like a real idiot at times. She would go over what happened with me in interviews and teach me how to do better. She was the first person to make me understand that I had to get in the employers head if I wanted to have a career.
You see like lots of people I was good at my job, but I had no idea how to show that to an employer. I had no confidence at all. I didn't know how it 'worked' ...the rules of job seeking you might say. And there are many of you who probably feel the same
To get a job takes work. Plain and simple. If you register somewhere and wait then that's what you will do, wait. Make a decision to take charge of your career and then work at it every week until you get results. Don't think of it as success or failure, think of it as a learning experience. It takes time. You will then be prepared to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
Job seeking checklist:
I have:
- identified the industry I want to target
- registered with job seeking sites and set up email alerts
- requested information packages for similar jobs
- written a list of my skills, experience and qualifications & identified gaps
- started thinking about a long term plan to fill the gaps (you don't have to do it all at once)
- rewritten my resume, CV to reflect the requirements of the industry
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)
*Read about Tondys jobseeking adventures here and while you are there scroll down to the bottom of her webpage and check out the cutest little girl on the net. She is adorable!
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4 comments:
Another fantastic post louise. I'm really happy in my current role, but then I've only been here 4 months! I've got this bookmarked now though for the future!
Didn't know you were being considered for a promotion, congrats, and good luck although I know with you there's nothing to worry about. Even though I have you as mentor I always catch one or two things useful in your posts. Keep them rolling. Oh yah, I love the CV, like I said I would employ myself given a choice. Thank you.
I am excited about this promotion, and I'm putting in a fair bit of preparation work.
hi tondy, glad the CV was good, happy to help anytime :)
I have to second your advice on practicing your interviewing techniques. Practice makes perfect. It certainly does not help if you fumble through the questions or confidence is lacking during an interview.
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