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How to find a jobThere are many different ways of finding work. In Australia, the most obvious way is to look at the jobs advertized in the newspaper, or jobs displayed or listed in the an Employment Service Office. The problem is that because these are obvious places to look for work, everyone else looks for work in these places too!Jobs which you see in obvious places are likely to be harder to get, because more people will know about them, and more people will apply for them. The smart way to get a job is to develop an understanding of how and why people give jobs to other people: THEN GET TO THE EMPLOYER FIRST, before the job is even advertized or offered to anyone else. This is the way successful marketing and sales people work: EXAMPLES: *Landscapers, Curtain salesmen and Carpet layers find out who has been given permits to build houses, or who is building houses; and approach these people before the house is built, knowing all too well that these people will in the near future be looking for services which they offer. *Wedding photographers send brochures on their services to people who announce their engagement in the paper. If you want a particular type of job in a particular industry; the first step is to get to know that industry, and get to know how, why and when jobs are likely to be available. You then need to approach the potential employer directly and repeatedly, keeping your name in front of them. This way, when an opportunity arises, they are likely to think of you as a possible employee, perhaps without even considering advertizing. This approach might be described as "prospecting for work". PROSPECTING FOR WORK You can prospect for work the following ways: 1. In Person 2. Over the Phone 3. In Writing (eg. letters or leaflets) Different industries and different jobs require different approaches. For one situation letters might be best, while another might achieve better results by prospecting in person. Keep in mind: *Employers can be busy. Some will be frustrated and disinclined to employ you if you annoy them too much, so don't push yourself too hard and be sensitive to the mood of the workplace when you make an approach by phone or in person. Some days they might be in a better mood and you might get a better response. *Busy employers don't have a lot of time to read things so letters need to get the message across quickly and with impact. A catchy heading or first sentence, and an informative first paragraph are essential. *You need to approach employers at the right frequency. Too often will discourage them; and too infrequent will take the risk of them forgetting about you. *You need to prospect to a sufficient number of places. Letters to two or three different businesses are unlikely to result in work; but letters to 100 will have a good chance of bringing work. PROSPECTING WITH LETTERS This involves sending a well drafted letter together with a C.V. (ie. resume) to potential employers. The letter and C.V. need to be written in a way which will be attractive to the type of people it is being sent to. This is done by highlighting the things which that employer would look for in an employee. To achieve this in your letter, you should know a little about the industry you are hoping to work in. Talk to people in that industry. If you have done a relevant course; talk with your lecturers about what should be put in the letter. EXAMPLE OF A LETTER:
HOW TO GET A JOB by John Mason, Principal Australian Correspondence Schools It's harder than ever today to break into the workforce. Young people are being told they need an education to get a job, then when they get an education jobs are hard to get because they don't have work experience. To be successful in today's workforce you need to first take a long term view, and secondly understand how different industries work. A LONG TERM VIEW Successful people rarely start at the top, or even the middle of the ladder. Most people who do well in their career start with jobs that are not so great. *If you want to succeed, treat tedious jobs as a challenge. Treat the job seriously, put effort and passion into it. This will attract your employers' attention. *If you find it hard to get the job you want, take any job in the industry you want to work in. A cleaner working for a computer company might move on to an office job, and eventually to the position he wants. *If you can't get any job; go into business for yourself. Mow lawns, wash cars, do baby sitting or anything. It doesn't matter what you do, the person who has been doing something will always have a better chance of getting work later on than the person who has been doing nothing. *Experience in such a small business might not make much money, but it will give you experience and show future employers that you have initiative. *Keep studying after you leave school. Extra skills or knowledge gained through study could often be what makes an employer choose you rather than someone else. *Be prepared to be your own boss if that's how that industry works. In some industries the best long term opportunities are likely to be in self employment (e.g. more than 90% of nurseries in Australia in the late 1980's were very small businesses run as a partnership, perhaps with one or two part time staff). UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHOSEN INDUSTRY *Put yourself in the shoes of the employer. They will look for people who will be able to do the job well, do it quickly and not take a lot of time to train. You need to know exactly what day to day tasks you will be doing, and then in the interview, convince the employer that you can do them. Your application must be relevant - emphasise the things which matter to that particular job. *Make a point of going out and meeting people who work in your chosen industry. Join clubs or societies (eg: If you want to be a photographer join a photographic club). Visit shops or businesses involved in that industry. Study courses or attend seminars where you will come in contact with people who work in that industry. KEY SKILLS/ATTRIBUTES Employers commonly look for the following in new staff: *Some "work skill" training - courses which teach things you will use on the job (theory or practical) are often preferred to highly academic courses. *A proven work record - something to show that you work hard, adapt to new tasks and are motivated to work even when the boss isn't about. *Maturity. *Basic communication skills - to be able to talk and write clearly and concisely. *Basic maths skills. *Some computer experience - do not be afraid to use new technology. |
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