2011 Careers Central UOW “Stand outfromthe crowd” The EDGE CD/online version Useful Resources The online version contains; video footage with comments from employers a template for recording skills as well as sample resumes and letters. Navigation The navigation in this PDF has tools that are easy to use but may need to be highlighted so you don’t miss out on these features or get confused. The options for navigation include: 1. The coloured navigation bar that appears on most content pages towards the top of the page. 2. The grey column on the left within each section of the PDF. You can use this navigation to jump through topics within each section. 3. The hooks that appear within the PDF page towards the bottom. This way you can go backwards or forwards. 4. The PDF icon indicates that you can open a PDF template/sample of this topic and the QuickTime icon links to a QuickTime movie on this topic. Viewing & Printing Increase the print size by changing the magnification of the entire PDF page. You can print individual sections of the PDF by defining which pages to print in the PDF print window. 10th edition January, 2011 Contributions Content development: Careers Central University of Wollongong Project concept and layout: Uta Fischer and Careers Central, University of Wollongong Original production and design: CASR - Centre for Academic Systems & Resources @ UOW (under faculty service agreement) Print disclaimer No part of this work may be reproduced (with the exception of student templates) without the prior written consent of Careers Central, University of Wollongong. All requests and enquiries should be directed to Martin Smith, Careers Central, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia. Telephone: 02 4221 3325 or email [email protected]. © University of Wollongong 2011. All rights reserved. I Introduction For many of you, finding a job is pretty high on your list of priorities. Careers Central is here to help you make the best decisions possible regarding the important transition from your university course to the next stage of your life - whether it is work, study, starting your own business, or community activities - or a combination of all of the above. This annually updated resource deals with all aspects of finding work (paid and unpaid) including writing job applications and attending job interviews. In this booklet we look at some specific ways of getting through the job search process as smoothly as possible, and provide practical examples of help available. Standing out from the crowd in the job market isn’t easy Read on to get useful advice on landing your own employer II Contents 1. Getting started Where do I look for jobs? 2 Careers Central UOW Job websites 2 Other major sources available to you 3 Connecting with your audience 4 Exploring work experience 4 When 5 Unpaid work experience 5 Length of work experience 5 Advantages of work experience 6 Locating suitable work experience 6 Certificate in Global Workplace Practice (CGWP) 8 Preparing for the job application process 8 Self Assessment 8 Important skills and the UOW Graduate Qualities 9 CARL/STAR 10 Matching skills to the employer 11 Template for recording skill development 12 2. The Job Application What form do applications take? 14 Resumes 15 What is a resume or CV? 15 How much detail goes into the resume? 16 Should your employment and educational history be in reverse chronological order? 16 Should you have a career objective stated at the start? 16 Should you stick with a conventional resume or develop a skills based resume? 17 III Your resume - get it right 17 Some basic rules 17 Sample Resume 1: Generic Resume 19 Careers Central UOW Sample Resume 2: Creative Industry Resume 20 Sample Resume 3: IT Focused Resume 21 Sample Resume 4: Human Services Resume 22 Sample Resume 5: Postgraduate Resume 23 Overview of Resume Content 24 The covering letter or letter of application 25 Ways to ask for a job in an exploratory covering letter 26 Sample of covering letter 1 27 Sample of covering letter 2 28 Supporting statement addressing selection criteria 29 Sample response to selection criteria 29 Use ‘Action Words’ to describe yourself 31 3. Creative job seeking The exploratory letter and ‘cold calling’ 33 Networking 34 The benefits of networking are twofold 34 Social Media and Online Resumes 35 Design a job 36 IV 4. The interview Before the interview 38 Careers Central UOW Knowledge of yourself, the position and the organisation 39 Appearance/grooming 40 What to take with you? 41 Punctuality 41 Confidence and nerves 41 Interview formats and styles 42 One to one 43 Panel Interviews 44 Assessment centres 44 Psychometric testing 45 Targeted selection or behavioural based interviewing 46 Telephone 46 Communicating in the interview 47 Listening skills 47 Project your enthusiasm 47 Answering questions 47 Some common questions 48 Practice improves 48 Going off track 49 Getting stuck 50 Use examples 50 Questions for them 50 After the interview 51 V 6. Job seeking advice for international students 53 Considerations for international students 53 Careers Central UOW Certificate in Global Workplace Practice (CGWP) 53 Sample resume for international students 54 Sample Resume 6: International Students Resume 55 7. Job seeking advice for a mature age worker Job search as a mature age worker 59 Mature age resume 60 Do’s 60 Don’ts 60 VI Careers Central: What we do We provide FREE services, resources and programs which assist students to make appropriate career plans, and increase their chances of obtaining employment. Find your direction - access to career planning resources and services, including career counselling. Explore your options - meet employers face to face at Careers Fairs and online. Discover your employability - put your knowledge to work and check out the world of work via workplace learning programs. Get your job - free workshops, resume checking service, mock interviews and access our ‘My JobBoard’. Register on ‘My JobAlert’ and be kept up to date with relevant opportunities. Where we are Find us on the lower ground floor, Building 11, in the UniCentre. Take the stairs outside the UniShop down to the lower ground floor, and we’re between the shop and the foodhall, just near the Medical Centre. www.uow.edu.au/careers Contacts Opening Monday to Friday Hours: 9am to 5pm Email: [email protected] Phone: 02 4221 3325 1 getting started 1. Getting started 1. Where do I look for Careers Central UOW Where do I look for jobs? jobs There are many sources into which you can tap when looking for a job. The internet has in some ways made the process a 2. Connecting with bit simpler, in other ways more complex and demanding. You need to be prepared to spend time and to acquire techniques your audience which will serve in a variety of situations. 3. Exploring work Many employers are in regular contact with Careers Central and come on to campus for careers fairs and presentations, experience most frequently during first session each year, seeking to recruit graduates for the following year. 4. Certificate in Global Many other employers advise Careers Central of vacancies, which are posted on the web page at www.uow.edu.au/careers/ Workplace Practice jobboard and/or displayed on the notice boards outside Careers Central. (CGWP) The website also contains links to all the major job websites discussed below, and houses My JobAlert, which lets us 5. Preparing for the inform you about relevant opportunities. Register online at www.uow.edu.au/careers job application process Job websites 6. Portfolio Despite what you read in some places, most job vacancies are advertised. At last count there were several hundred job template websites in Australia, and of course many thousands worldwide. How do you make sense of all of this? Get into the habit of checking the Careers Central website regularly (say once a week - once you get into a routine, it doesn’t take too long to do the searches you need to do). As noted above, start with www.uow.edu.au/careers - our website, with lots of useful links and actual jobs! Have a look at www.graduatecareers.com.au - which is a national site devoted to graduate employment, and has a great deal of useful information about the graduate labour market. Also look at the Federal Government site www.deewr.gov.au - which has broader information about the Australian labour market. 2 getting started For specific job vacancies, there are two government sites and three commercial sites which comprise the core - you ignore these at your peril! 1. Where do I look for Careers Central UOW www.jobsearch.gov.au - the Federal Government’s major job site, providing information about vacancies all over jobs Australia. 2. Connecting with www.jobs.nsw.gov.au - provides links not only to jobs in NSW Government departments and agencies but also your audience to jobs in Federal and Local Government. www.mycareer.com.au - linked to newspapers such as the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (Melbourne). 3. Exploring work www.careerone.com.au - linked to newspapers such as The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday experience Telegraph, The Courier Mail, The Herald Sun and The Advertiser. 4. Certificate in Global www.seek.com.au - a dedicated job website which has grown to be a major source of job information and is Workplace Practice linked to many other sites. (CGWP) A bit of judicious googling can lead you to sites in your areas of study or interest. There are, as mentioned, many other 5. Preparing for the job websites - many are associated with professional bodies and similar organisations.