CURTIN UNILIFE

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES

CURTIN CAREERS CENTRE

IMAGE E PLACEHOLDER

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CONTENTS
Job Search ..............................................................................................................................Page 04 Plan Your Job Search ..........................................................................................................Page 05 Plan Your Job Seach Times ...............................................................................................Page 07

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The Curtin Careers Centre provides a range of resources for students interested in enhancing their career potential. Our services include:
career counselling with professional career development consultants; assistance with job search skills and job applications, resume checks, a mentoring program and an online jobs board (Jobs & Events Connect); employer presesentations on campus throughout the academic year; plus workshops and information sessions on a range of career topics.

Resources ...............................................................................................................................Page 08 Notes ........................................................................................................................................Page 09

We also host the Curtin Careers Fair, WAs premier university-based fair, along with faculty careers fairs and the Experience Works Fair. Engage with Curtin Careers Centre today to reach your career goal tomorrow!

Contacting the Careers Centre

Location: Building 303, level 2 Email: careers@curtin.edu.au Phone: (08) 9266 7802 Skype: CurtinCareersCentre (by appointment only) Website: www.careers.curtin.edu.au Access new jobs posted daily, workshop information, special events and employer presentations through Jobs & Events Connect. www.careers.curtin.edu.au/jobsandeventsconnect/index.html Register to attend workshops: www.careers.curtin.edu.au/calendar/

Explore Connect Grow

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JOB SEARCH
Answer the following questions regarding what employment opportunities you are looking for? When applying for any employment opportunity you must keep in mind what employers are looking for. Employers are looking for more than your ability to fill the technical aspects of the role, they are also interested in your transferable skills and your personal qualities. The employer is interested in establishing whether you will fit within their current team. You need to be clear about the type of work you are seeking when you commence your job search. Following the five steps below will ensure you are effectively taking advantage of all job search strategies
1.

PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH

At times you may become overwhelmed with the time and effort you are dedicating to your job search. Planning for how you are going to look for work will mean your job search activities are more efficient and effective. Some elements to consider include: Find out how your industry prefers to advertise Some companies advertise jobs on their own websites, or they might direct you to alternative job placement websites. Some industries advertise through only a few portals, like public education for example. Others use a range of media to advertise their vacant positions. Speaking to industry groups, career counsellors, lecturers and networking will help you uncover how your industry prefers to advertise positions. The Hidden Job Market Not all jobs are advertised. Networking, referrals and word of mouth are other ways you may find out about job opportunities. Joining your industry professional body as a student member, academic student clubs and attending professional development events are a great way to network with like-minded professional who can assist you with finding out about these employment opportunities. Refer to the Curtin Career Centres Networking Information Sheet for more details. When you call the employer you should consider the following:

What is cold calling? Not all positions are advertised. Cold calling an organisation involves making initial contact with a company you have otherwise not been in contact with. Cold calling organisations or employers demonstrates your ability to take initiative, shows you are a confident individual and demonstrates your interest in the services or opportunities the organisation offers. First start by researching the potential employer you are interested in. You might navigate through their website, or speak to someone you know that works their, or maybe you will attend a career fair or employer seminar at Curtin University.

1. What type of opportunity are you seeking? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ 2. What mode of work are you seeking? i.e. full time, casual, vacation program... _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ 3. What industry or organisation would you prefer to work for? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ 4. What are your working location preference? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ 5. What are your work environment preference? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ 6. How does the certain job opportunity I am currently applying for align with my preferences, strengths, interests and values? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________

2. 3. 4. 5.

Know what you are looking for and be prepared with as much job application documentation as possible. Plan how you are going to look for work. Consider where to look for work. Prepare and submit the job application. Follow up with the potential employer.

It is highly likely when you initially call the organisation you will speak to an Administration Officer or Receptionist. When you introduce yourself ask if you can speak to the person responsible for recruiting staff. This is likely to be a Human Resources Manager in a larger organisation or government organisation. In a small business or small not-for-profit organisation the persion responsible for recruiting staff may be the General Manager, Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director.

Know what your are looking for and

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PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH

PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH TIMES

______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________

If the appropriate person is not available to speak to you, ask if you can have their name, phone number and email address. It is also worth asking when is the most appropriate time to call them directly. If you do have the opportunity to speak directly with the recruiter introduce yourself and ask if it is this a good time to speak with them? If they say yes, outline why you have contacted the company and tell them about your educational history, qualifications and technical skills and knowledge. You might like to ask for a meeting or to send in your resume for further consideration.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Sat.

Sun.

9am 10am 11am 12pm

PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH TIME. The Curtin Careers Centre recomments you plan your job searching activities on a week by week basis. You can do this by allocating times to complete certain tasks and writing out your desired goals for the week. This may assist you to stay on track with your job search. Block out certain times each week dedicated to specific job search activities. Use the dairy overleaf to help you plan your job search times. Think about what is the best time of day and day of the week to undertake specific job search and job application activities. For example look at the West Australian employment section first thing on a Saturday morning. Call a Recruitment agency first thing on Monday to see what new jobs are avaliable this week.

1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm

And do not forget you thank the person for their time. DEVELOP YOUR COLD CANVASSING SCRIPT. Write a script outlining what you would say to an employer you would like to work for. Some ideas might include:

Details of your studies Extra curricular activities Aims for work experience Your knowledge of the company

______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________

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RESOURCES
Ensure you explore a variety of resources and mediums that employers use to advertise employment opportunities. These include:

The West Australian Saturday Edition Employment Section. You can also search The West Employment online. Local Community Newspaper, delivered weekly or available at your local newsagency or local public library at no cost. The Local Community newspaper is great for sourcing jobs in your area www.communitynews.com.au Yellow Pages to research and cold canvass businesses of interest www.yellowpages.com.au Google Online employment search engines such as www.seek.com.au; www.careerone. com.au; www.mycareer.com.au The Curtin Guild Job Board building 100 on the Bentley campus Jobs and Events Connect - Browse jobs and employers to identify companies you wish to cold call www.careers.curtin.edu.au Recruitment agencies Professional Association often have an employment section on their website where they advertise positions. Professional association websites also list upcoming events for networking and professional development opportunities. Your attendance at these events will assist with uncovering the hidden job market and cold canvassing for employment. The Curtin Careers Centre hosts employer seminars and information sessions throughout semester. These sessions

provide you with the opportunity to investigate internships, vacation work, graduate employment, information about the organisation and the application and selection processes. These sessions are advertised online through Jobs and Events Connect. Some organisations will also host their own employer information sessions at their place of business. These sessions may also be advertised on Jobs and Events Connect, on the company website or in the newspaper. Career Fairs - The Curtin Careers Centre hosts the annual Careers Fair in March each year. Go to www.careers.curtin. edu.au to find out which employers are attending the Careers Fair.

My

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Use Jobs and Events Connect to identify five organisations or businesses of interest that you would either like to cold canvass or apply for employment with. Research their website for volunteering, work experience or employment opportunities, about us information, contact details and outline of current projects and activities. 1. _____________________________________ 2. _____________________________________ 3. _____________________________________ 4. _____________________________________ 5. _____________________________________

Explore Connect Grow

CURTIN CAREERS CENTRE
http://careers.curtin.edu.au

JOBS & EVENTS CONNECT

http://www.careers.curtin.edu.au/jobsandeventsconnect/index.html

Curtin Careers Centre Curtin University of Technology CRICOS Provider Code 00301J Disclaimer and Copyright Information. Copyright Curtin University of Technology 2010. Information in this publication is correct at the time of printing and valid for 2010, but may change from time to time. In particular the University reserves the right to change the content and/or method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw any unit of study or program that it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program. Curtin will not be liable to you or to any other person for any loss or damage (including direct, consequential or economic loss or damage) however caused and whether by negligence or otherwise that may result directly or indirectly from the use of this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be directed to the Curtin Careers Centre on +61 8 9266 7802.