How to find employment

1. How to find employment

2. Learning Objectives • Recognise how industry and opportunity awareness assists you in finding employment • Be able to find and research different industry publications to use in the job search process • Understand how professional associations can assist in career development and job searching • Recognise what employers are looking for to assist in presenting as a well rounded candidate • Be introduced to the SODI model and recognise the difference between searching for any job and planning for your career • Be able to recall at least 5 different strategies of finding employment

3. Industry and Opportunity Awareness • Stay up to date in your field (read relevant industry publications; attend conferences) • Network- join a professional or trade association • Take advantage of all opportunities for continuous learning and professional development • Develop a mentor relationship • Labour Market (employment patterns) • Analyse job vacancies (identify common key selection criteria) • Research Employers (find out what they want)

4. Where can you find industry publications? Library Catalogue • www.lib.monash.edu.au • Search under “Electronic Journals” or “Subject Guides”

5. Where can you find professional associations? Library Catalogue • www.lib.monash.edu.au • Key word search “Directory of Australian Associations” • Look for – “Directory of Australian associations live [electronic resource]” • In the left hand column of the website look under “Lists”

6. Mentoring opportunities • Graduate School of Business (for postgraduate students) www.gsb.monash.edu.au/gdo/careers/mentoring/mentor-program.html • Mentoring Australia – National Mentoring Association of Australia www.dsf.org.au/mentor/benchmark.htm

7. Labour market information • www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/LabourMarketAnalysis • Check out • Australian Jobs 2008. It provides a guide to the occupations and industries in which Australians work and highlights jobs with good prospects. • Australian Labour Market Update. A quarterly publication which explains the labour market for those seeking jobs in Australia, particularly migrants. • Job Outlook. An online site that complements the Australian Jobs publication and provides detailed and forward-looking information for around 400 occupations.

8. Loyalty Commitment Honesty and Integrity Enthusiasm Reliability Personal Presentation Common Sense Positive Self-esteem Sense of humour Balanced attitude to work and home life Ability to deal with pressure Motivation Adaptability What are employers looking for? Personal Attributes

9. What are employers looking for? • Communication • Teamwork • Problem Solving • Initiative and Enterprise • Planning and Organising • Self Management • Learning • Technology Employability Skills Transferable Skills Soft Skills

10. What are employers looking for? Technical Skills • Business:International Trade, Sales and Marketing, Project Management, Business Acumen, Market Analysis and Research Skills, Risk Analysis, Data Analysis • IT:Quality control, Quality Assurance, Information Management, System and Content Management, Case and Client Evaluation • Education: Behaviour Management, Curriculum Planning, Competence in General Care • Arts:Critical Thinking, Analysis and Interpretation of Information, Understanding of Cultural Diversity, Policy Development, Creative Expression, Communication through Contemporary Media, Project Management, Problem Solving

11. What are employers looking for? Technical Skills • Science:Laboratory skills, Scientific Method and Practice, Experimental Design and Analysis, Ethical and Social responsibility, Modern Technologies and Advancement • Health:Ethical research, Clinical and Procedural Skills, Information Management, Quality Assurance, Planning and Implementing Care Activities, Health Promotion and Prevention • Engineering:Economic and Safe Design, Energy Balance, Evaluating New and Alternative Technologies, Environmental Issues Analysis, Manufacturing Process, Time Standard Procedures, Project Management • Art and Design:Multimedia Design Techniques, Digital Arts, Creative Expression, Perception and Concept Development, Design of Consumer Products, Critical Thinking and Analysis Skills, Interdisciplinary Approach

12. What are employers looking for? Key Selection Criteria • What are they? • Where can you find them? • Why is this relevant to me?

13. Key Selection Criteria

14. Self awareness • Do you know your skills, interests and values? • Do you know what your key work/study related achievements are? • Are your skills marketable and up to date? • Have you matched the skills you have with those needed in your desired field? * Doing this allows you to: • Identify the skills and attributes you have to offer the organisation • Determine the additional skills you need to develop to make yourself more marketable and ‘bridge the gap’

15. Identify your skills Look at each area and consider what it involves • Work • Extra-curricular activities • Formal Study • Personal Life (traveling, hobbies) What skills did you develop from each?

16. Identify your skills – examples Some Examples: • Part-time work at McDonalds: learned customer service and team-work, developed leadership skills by supervising new staff (transferable skills) • Working at Harvey Norman: learned to communicate effectively through liaising with staff and customers. • Being part of the Young Achievers Australia program developed my small business skills (job specific) • Studying Marketing at University developed my understanding of consumer behaviour • You’ve not only identified your skills but you have collected evidence of when you have used that particular skill. Now you can make mention of your skills when completing on line applications, resumes , cover letters, KSC and at Interview and support each with concrete examples of when you used them.

17. Identify your skills - apply • Once you have identified your skills and experiences think about how they can be applied to the industry and positions you are interested in. • Example 1: Customer service and team-work developed at McDonalds can be applied to the role of an assistant accountant: dealing with external clients (customer service) and working collaboratively with colleagues (team-work). • Example 2: My understanding of consumer behaviour developed through formal study can be applied to any marketing role as it is used to develop marketing strategies.

18. Identify your skills – common mistakes • Highlighting lack of experience “I have no direct marketing experience in marketing, but I’m sure if given the opportunity, I will be able to learn…” Learn to identify related experiences or transferable skills: “Sourcing speakers for a careers event on campus in 2006 was a valuable experience that added to my marketing skills.”

19. Identify your skills – common mistakes 2) Unsubstantiated claims “I have highly developed communication skills.” Whenever possible add examples to support your claim: “I have highly developed written and oral communication skills developed from editing club’s newsletter and public speaking during university Open Day and Orientation.”

20. Identify your skills – common mistakes 3) Listing too many skills and attributes ” I’m hardworking, motivated, eager to learn, reliable, proactive, with a professional attitude and eye for detail, and with highly developed analytical and research skills.” List only skills and attributes that are relevant to the job

21. Identify your skills – common mistakes 4) Complaining and not acting: “I have no work experience, all other candidates are better than me, I couldn’t work during Uni because I didn’t have time, I can’t do anything about it now. It’s not fair! Think positively and develop an action plan: “Ok, I lack work experience. What can I do over the next 6 months to help me leverage myself? Let’s start by making a list of possible organisations to contact for volunteer work.”

22. Get experience - volunteering • Volunteering • Where can I find these opportunities? • https://careergateway.monash.edu.au • www.volunteeringvictoria.com.au • www.govolunteer.com.au • www.volunteer.com.au • volunteersearch.gov.au • Approach organisations directly • Handout

23. Get experience – work integrated learning • Internships • Vacation Work Where can I find these opportunities? • Look at www.graduateopportunities.com.au • Speak with Lecturers, look at Faculty’s noticeboard and look at www.careers.monash.edu.au/work-integrated-learning • Visit the Monash Careers Website and check career gateway www.careers.monash.edu.au • Contact the relevant professional associations and industry bodies in your field • Look for industry specific job websites (i.e. www.accounting-jobs.com.au/Content_Common/pg-accounting-internship-applications.seo • Monash Professional Internships (internships in Australia and O/S). www.monashprofessional.com.au/internships Note: fees involved

24. Get experience – extra curricular activities • Actively being part of a University club or societywww.monash.edu.au/students/associations/clubs-societies.html • Contributing to University publications(lots wife, esperanto, moo scoop news, Ink and Ramblings) • Joining a sports groupwww.sport.monash.edu.au/sportsprograms/sports-clubs.html • Monash Abroad or other overseas exchange programswww.monash.edu.au/students/studyabroad

25. Get experience – part time, casual, temporary, contract work • Look at employment websites (handout) • Check Career Gateway and News and Events at www.careers.monash.edu.au • Approach Employers directly • Register with Recruitment agencies

26. Find a job – the internet • Be clever with your key word searches – think outside of the usual terms you would search for • www.careers.monash.edu.au • www.seek.com.au • www.mycareer.com.au • www.jobsearch.gov.au • www.careerone.com.au • Organisation’s website (in the career section)

27. Find a job - newspapers • Local Newspaper- greatly overlooked • The Age- Careers section • The Herald Sun • Industry publications / Gazettes • Graduate Recruitment Programs (public and private sector)

28. Find a job – recruitment companies • Select those that are appropriate for you • Look into specialised companies for your field • Treat them as if they are your employers. Be clear on your goals and skills • Try to establish a consistent contact • www.mycareer.com.au click ‘Search by Advertiser’ • www.seek.com.au click ‘Search by Recruiter’ • employment.byron.com.au click “recruiters” then “recruiter search”

29. Find a job – through a different functional area of the organisation Get your foot in the door • Take on an administrative role • IT support role • Part-time/casual work • Temp work • Contract work

30. Find a job – the hidden job market • Refers to jobs that are not advertised • Estimated that 70-75% of jobs are filled this way • You tap into the hidden job market through your NETWORKS!!!!

31. Find a job – the hidden job market Tapping into the HIDDEN JOB MARKET • Unsolicited applications (speculative applications and cold calling) • Referrals • Networking • Informational Interviewing

32. Find a job – the hidden job market Tips in writing speculative applications and cold calling • Write a letter enquiring about any vacancies • Timing • Yellow Pages • Research

33. Find a job – the hidden job market Who is in your Network? • Family and Friends, neighbours • Former managers / supervisors • Former customers / clients • Professional contacts (conferences, seminars and professional associations) • Past/Present lecturers • Current/past co-workers • Church/ Community groups / Social clubs • Work Experience Placements • Acquaintances and generally the people you meet in every day life • Other contacts

34. Find a job – the hidden job market Informational Interviewing • What is it? • Purpose • Guidelines • What do you say?

35. Test – what are 5 ways of finding a job? • Journals/Industry Publications • Professional Associations • Online Job Boards and the Internet • Newspapers • Networking and Informational Interviewing

36. Final tips • Promote yourself effectively • Be proactive • Remain positive • Be realistic • Get as many people as possible looking for you

37. Resources Handouts • Volunteering – a guide • Informational Interviewing • Networking • Career, course and job websites Websites • Throughout the presentation

38. Contact us Tel: +61 3 9905 4170 Email: info@careers.monash.edu.au Web: www.careers.monash.edu