careernav.

By Anne Parker

Getting and keeping that job

Getting a job is daunting especially if you are unemployed or making the leap from studying to the workforce. You are under such a lot of pressure from yourself, your family perhaps and Centrelink. You may have been rejected many times and you can feel at a loss as to what you can possibly do. There’s no easy solution but here are some do’s and don’t to use:

The Resume

• DON’T send off the same resume or curriculum vitae to every job that you apply for. You must tailor each application to every job giving emphasis to the specific requirements of that job. For example if applying for retail jobs in a clothing shop, and a camera shop you would emphasize your knowledge and interest in clothes for the clothing shop and cameras for the camera shop. Other aspects of the jobs will be very similar and customer service will be especially important.
•  Don’t be long winded or too brief. Your resume should be no more than two pages long. It should be clearly set out and have NO spelling or grammatical errors. Your resume will be given a quick read through and if there’s anything not quite right it will go in the bin. Harsh but true.
• Do write in behavioural terms. For example if you are the captain of a basketball team explain what being captain of the basketball team involves. You probably have to organize the placement of the players, set an example to the rest of the team by being on time for practice and games. This is an opportunity to demonstrate some really important skills and attributes like leadership, organization, reliability and teamwork.

The Interview

Prepare, prepare prepare! Ask whoever you are in contact with at the organization you are applying to work at if there are any guidelines for the interview. If not typical questions to prepare for are:

1. Why do you want the job?
2. What do you know about this business/organization?
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
4. What experience would you bring to our business/organization?
5. Give us an example of a difficult situation you resolved under pressure or you may be given a scenario to speak to.

• Some interviews are initially with a group of other candidates. The employer is looking to see how you interact with others. Don’t dominate the group but don’t sit back and contribute nothing either. It’s a delicate balancing act.
• Prepare your interview outfit well in advance; make sure it is appropriate. For example should you wear a suit or smart casuals? If you are uncertain ask someone who knows. This could be a friend, family member, a Centrelink person or your careers teacher. Make sure your clothes and shoes are clean. If you must buy clothes for an interview and you are cash-strapped then go to an opportunity shop. They are a great source of affordable clothes.

You’ve been through the arduous task of applying, being interviewed once, twice perhaps 3 times and hooray you’ve got the job! Now you have to hang onto it and show your boss that they made the right decision employing you.

What can you do to keep your job?

Apart from carrying out your tasks competently your boss will want to see the following attributes: enthusiasm for the job is really important. Put on a happy face, show that you’re keen and willing to get the job done. Showing creativity and initiative regarding how to do your job will be favourably received. This could be coming up with a better way of doing something that results in saving time and money, which are the two big factors in keeping a business afloat. Employers also want reliability so being on time and turning up each day unless ill or there’s a family crisis is highly valued. Another very important attribute is getting along with everyone. You‘re not expected to like everyone you work with and become friends with them but you do need to tolerate everyone and be respectful. Having a sense of humour is often appreciated, as is being clean and tidy. Being adaptable is very highly valued. For example being able to alter your daily schedule at a moments notice or helping out in a different department for a short time.

How do you market yourself without seeming arrogant?

You want to make your mark and show that you are a potential manager and leader but how do you achieve this without appearing to be overly pushy. This is tricky especially when you may have the “tall poppy syndrome” to contend with that is the tendency to make fun of those who stand out above the crowd and try and bring them down. 

 Usually if you go about your job in the manner described above it will be noticed. You will build a solid reputation for yourself and be highly regarded. We are all being observed and making mental notes about the performance of those around us, you will do it too. It seems to be a human condition so make it work for you.

Large organizations generally have frequent reviews of your work and this is an opportunity to market your skills without feeling you are big noting yourself. As stated earlier suggestions on how to better do something are mostly appreciated. A progressive company will encourage and reward initiative from its employees. In small organizations there’s no escaping the eagle eye of the boss; they know how well you’re going because they work along side you.

Creating work

Maybe you are the entrepreneurial type who wants to set up your own business. Perhaps you have an idea you think will work. Bill Gates and his mates took this approach and look where they are today! However, be warned that most small, new businesses so how do you go about it?

Essentially you need to have a plan for how your business will run, do the market research to verify if there’s a demand for what you want to sell, some money to get started and be prepared to work long and hard at it.

Fortunately help is at hand and it’s free. Check out: www.business.gov.au., you may qualify for a grant to help you get established. Of course there’s paperwork involved but worth the effort. The Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce runs short course and offers on-line advice at www.vecci.org.au

Places to get help and information

The first place to look for assistance with making the leap from school to work or further training is your school-based careers teacher. Attend as many of the information sessions that are advertised as you can. Make an appointment for a one to one session and visit as often as you need to.

Not all schools have a careers teacher or the person may not have much time for individual appointments so it may be necessary to go further afield. Places that offer help are:

• Centrelink: the Australian Government employment and social benefits agency
• Group Training Australia: deals with apprenticeships
• The Career Information Centre Melbourne: cic.mel@centrelink.gov.au
• Private career practitioners: www.cdaa.org.au 
• Employment agencies: Google then check their credentials

Would you work for nothing?

Employers usually ask for experience. If you are a school leaver or have no experience in a job that you would like to apply for how do you get it? It’s a vexed question.

Clearly you’d rather not work for no pay but it’s definitely worthwhile if you’re not having any luck through the normal channels of responding to advertisements. What have you got to lose? And it may lead to an offer of paid employment or at least it would give you some valuable work experience and a reference and that is worth something.

Pearls of wisdom

• With a slight variation to the immortal words of John F. Kennedy: Ask not what your boss can do for you but what can you do for your boss. In other words think in terms of what benefits you can bring to the organization that employs you and you’ll be highly valued.
• Have your resume checked by your careers teacher  or consult a professional careers practitioner 
• Prepare some questions and have a mock interview with a friend or family member before the real thing.