Effective strategies for job search

1. Effective strategies forjob search Prepared by: Career Development & Employment RMIT University www.rmit.edu.au/careers February 2012

2. Before you start your job search Each of these areas needs to be addressed for effective job search and to give focus to your search • Self Awareness- your unique characteristics, skills, interests, values, lifestyle priorities, family and personal commitments • Personal Career Goals –give some thought to your initial career direction and what you want to learn • Industry specific knowledge • Labour market knowledge and exploration • Preparing a job application • Improving and refining your interview skills

3. Self exploration What are your: • Interests? • Skills? • Personality? • Values? • Strengths? • Weaknesses? Myfuture: www.myfuture.edu.au Career Track: www.rmit.edu.au/careers/careertrack (login required)

4. Generic skills(competencies) Capabilities that you have developed over time that are transferable Academic achievement in relevant discipline Interpersonal skills Oral and written communication skills Literacy and numeracy Research skills Problem-solving skills Teamwork skills Time management skills Basic computer skills Understanding of business processes Values and Personal Attributes Aspects of your personality which will influence how you fit into the workplace Enthusiasm and motivation Ambition Creativity and flair Maturity Personal presentation, grooming, dress Work ethic Sense of responsibility Initiative Self confidence Leadership Intellectual capacity Interest (in the job/industry) What Do Employers Look For?

5. Industry and Labour Market Research • Sectors in your industry • Types of roles • Entry level positions • Opportunities • Growth areas • Skills sought

6. Industry and Labour Market Research- Sources of information • Graduate Careers www.graduatecareers.com.au • Industry profiles • Gradstats • Hobsons GradCareers booklets http://www.gradcareers.com.au/ • Professional Associations http://www.graduateopportunities.com/header/professional_associations • Newspapers/industry publications • Company websites: search for careers/jobs/employment • Graduate Destination Survey www.rmit.edu.au/graddestinations • RMIT e-jobs www.rmit.edu.au/careers • Australian Jobsearch www.jobsearch.gov.au/careersearch • Myfuture www.myfuture.edu.au • Job Guide www.jobguide.dest.gov.au

7. RMIT University Careers Service www.rmit.edu.au/careers e-jobs http://ejobs.rmit.edu.au WIL or Co-op staff Graduate publishers Occupational information Media Advertised jobs Recruitment agencies Directories Professional/Industry Associations Company websites Industry publications The Graduate Job MarketAn active approach when job searching Where to Look –

8. Graduate publishers • Print or online format • Search by industry, occupation, degree, discipline • Local and international opportunities

9. Print Media • Local and International papers • Professional journals • Discipline related magazines • Industry/Professional Association publications • Newsletters/Bulletins • www.onlinenewspapers.com

10. Be Pro-active "We never follow. We do what others don't.“ Akio Morita Chairman Sony Corporation • Proactive Job Searching Strategies • Networking • Mentors • Information Interviewing • Direct approaches to employers

11. What is Networking? Networking is a process of cultivating and maintaining relationships in which a mutual exchange of information, advice and support facilitates the growth, success and happiness of all involved. Networking for career or employment purposes is: • Establishing contact/connections with people who work in the field which interests you • Establishing contact with people who are in a position to offer employment • Obtaining information from others that will assist you to make better decisions, plans and applications • Producing a list of people from whom to get information, advice and suggestions

12. Why network? • Career Choice • Exploring options/obtaining information • Making career decisions/choices • Job Search • Full-time/part-time • Work placements • Vacation/Co-op • Graduate • Career management • Professional development • Advancement • Career change/ career mobility • Business development • Self-employment • Consulting, freelancing, private practice

13. Advertised positions versus Tapping into the Hidden Job Markets VISIBLE JOB MARKET • 20-40% of jobs are advertised HIDDEN JOB MARKET • 60-80% of jobs are never advertised

14. Why network for job search? • Planning Strategy • Preparing for selection process • Tapping into the “Hidden Job Market” • Finding people to act as agents for you • Help evaluating job offers • Emotional support

15. Where to network • One-to-one meetings • Professional Groups • Professional associations • Conferences • Career or job fairs and expos • Regular meetings • Networking groups • Internet: Web 2.0 – social sites • Education and training • Social/recreational/community settings • Informal • Voluntary work

16. Professional and industry bodies Join an association to increase the chances of networking with those in your chosen field Some examples of professional bodies are: • Arts Industry Council • Australia-Indonesia Business Council • Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers Australia (APESMA) • Australian Human Resources Institute • Which associations represent your profession? • The Directory of Australian Associations contains over 7000associations and special interest groups, ranging from conservation and environment groups to arts and entertainment organisations to professional and industrial associations, accessible through the RMIT library

17. Networking Steps: Step 1 Your Story • Construct your own story: 2-3 paragraphs maximum • ‘This year I will complete a ... degree majoring in … and I am thinking about further study in ... to help get into the ... field. Would it be possible to meet for a few minutes to explore a few ideas I have about this and get some feedback from you?’

18. Step 2: Your Contacts • People close to you • family, friends and relatives, neighbours – who do they know? • Other people you know • professionals you deal with on a daily basis (for example lecturers) • sporting and other mutual interest contacts – club members etc. • work acquaintances – past and present • contacts you may have through volunteer work etc. • People you need to know • members of Professional Associations (become a member) • small/medium business owners and/or managers etc. • People you don’t know but who could be helpful • past graduates • people working in an area you are interested in • leaders in the field.

19. Steps 3 and 4: Prioritising and goal-setting • Research • The organisation • The industry • The profession • Goal Setting • Concrete timelines • Actions, tasks

20. Step 5:Career Research: Information Interviewing • Identify an organisation/employer (try your networks for contacts) and research them • Which department/division are you interested in? What is topical about the organisation? • Source contact details for the person you’re interested in seeking information from • Phone/Write/Visit and outline reasons for wanting to conduct the research - be very clear that you are after information at this stage and not a job • Follow-up on your request - be persistent

21. Information-based networking • What is happening currently in your area of interest? • The culture of an organisation • Career structure/opportunities in the profession/company • Skills the employer values • Where your skills might contribute to the company or industry • Ways of getting into the profession/company • Other contacts that may be useful • Employment openings e.g. new areas of expertise being sought

22. Questions • How did you break into this field? • How should I prepare for an interview in this field? • Where do you see a person like me fitting into this field? • What’s a typical career path for someone coming in at my level? • What professional publications should I read? • Do you know of any companies in the XYZ field that are expanding rapidly? • Do you know of other professionals in the field I should contact? • Can I keep in touch with you? • Can I mention your name (if given a referral to a third party)?

23. Growing your network • Joining a professional association so you can attend professional development seminars, discussion forums and information evenings • Attending conferences, workshops, trade shows and exhibitions relevant to your chosen industry • Maintaining contact with your university acquaintances including fellow students, academic staff and alumni association. • Considering voluntary work, temporary work or contract work – the more contacts the better!

24. Follow-up • Thank you notes/emails • Status reports • Maintain your contacts as part of your network

25. Business Cards • Compile a card file • Record meetings, follow-up etc. • Collect from contacts • Write relevant info on the back • Brief summary of information they provided • Develop your own • Name • Contact details

26. Successful networking requires: • Persistence • Research • Enthusiasm • Organisation

27. Resources • www.rmit.edu.au/careers/ • Professional Associations • Ejobs- job vacancies • Application Express • CD&E Quick tips sheets • Job search • Networking • Telephoning employers • Information interviews

28. Resources cont….. • Mycareer article about social networking in job search • http://content.mycareer.com.au/advice-research/search/can-facebook-and-bebo-improve-your-job-search.aspx • Recruitment and Consulting Services Australia Link Me job seeking site - articles about networking • www.linkme.com.au/career/main/Whatsthepointofnetworking.aspx • RMIT Alumni has many representatives to assist graduates in linking with other alumni in their location, profession, or interest area. Through these links members can participate in social and career networking activities and take on leadership roles. Membership is free. https://www.alumni.rmit.edu.au/