The Salvation Army Employment Plus

Important tactics for job candidates.

The basics - a daily checklist

Keep your resume updated and adapt it for each job application. An Employment Plus consultant can help you with this, or, if you prefer there are many great books and sites that cover tips for various industries.

• Every day contact at least three employers.
• Spend some time going through your email for any responses from potential employers and reply immediately.
• Go through your Job Search matches at the kiosk or the Internet (www.jobsearch.gov.au) and check job search websites such as seek.com.au and careerone.com.au for jobs in your field. Many websites like this allow you to set up alerts for jobs in your area.
• Read through the current vacancies at Employment Plus and in any newspapers in your area.
• If there are any changes to your details, update your employer contact sheet.
• Consider that job-searching is your job – get up as though you are going to work and get the most out of your job-searching time.
• Have a plan for each day.
• Keep your jobsearch applications well-organised so you can keep track of what you have sent where.

Do something extra

Use the Yellow Pages to develop a list of employers that you would like to approach.

• Contact the people in your network and ask for their help (i.e., who do they know who works in your areas of expertise and interest?)
• Visit websites of companies that you want to work for – they often have employment opportunities listed.
• Call target employers using your phone script to ask for an opportunity to meet them.
• Consider dropping your resume in to each business you would like to work for in case vacancies arise. Many jobs are filled before employers advertise, and employers are often impressed by jobseekers who make the extra effort to show interest in their business.

Prepare to market yourself

There are a variety of ways to make contacts work for you:

• Develop cold canvassing letters to send to employers.
• Create a resume to accompany your letter and ask someone else to read it.
• Review and develop your top six selling points for every position that you are applying for.
• Keep referee details up to date and send them a copy of your resume.
• Generate and test your cold calling phone script.
• Design a business card that you can hand to employers.
• Contact the receptionists at your target companies to establish the name and contact details of the person in charge of hiring for your target positions (e.g., employer, HR officer, department manager).
• Prepare answers for difficult interview questions that you think might be asked.

Stay up to date

You need to stay up to date on industry cultures and trends and you can do this by:

• Calling employers to learn more about your target positions and industry.
• Using the Internet to research employers and industry news in your field of fascination. The following resources will help:
  - Directory of Australian Associations (look for it at your local library)
  - The Australian Job Guide (www.jobguide.detya.gov.au)
• Review the business or finance newspaper/magazine to learn about new trends or topics of interest in your field

Practice

Keep on improving your skills.

• Pair up with a friend or another member of the job search group and mock interview each other. Give each other constructive feedback and suggestions.
• Search for training courses that you can undertake to develop your skills.
• Use job search information from websites and newspapers to improve your searching skills. The following websites are a good place to start:
• www.careerone.com.au
• www.seek.com.au
• www.mycareer.com.au
• www.employmentplus.com.au

Stand out from the crowd

Part of the interview is simply being memorable.

• Tailor your resume, cover letter and approach for each new employer.
• Dress professionally.
• Know what you have to offer the employer and show them clearly why they should hire you over other candidates.
• Be positive.
• Don’t forget to sell your soft skills (dependability, motivation, attitude, network, presentation). Employers value these as well.
• Make sure you quantify your selling points so that the employer can see how you meet their needs.
• Send a ‘Thank You’ email after a meeting or interview with an employer or networking contact.

Keep your chin up

Finding your next job is often a very challenging time, but these practical strategies can help you make the best of the time:

• Keep healthy. Drinking 2-3 litres of water, eating well and exercising each day can help you feel happier, less stressed, more energetic and more focussed.
• Make the most of the opportunities you have. When you’re working again you’ll be busy learning your new role, so build some time into each day for pursuing personal goals. This might be the time to get fit, to learn a language or to learn extra professional skills.
• Stay busy. Consider training and volunteer work while you’re searching for a new role.
• Talk to people around you and/or access counselling for support. The Salvos Careline is available for anyone who needs it, and many not-for-profit groups offer low-cost counselling. Talking through your options and experiences can be invaluable and is sometimes the smartest way to manage the pressure of jobsearching. This can be especially useful if leaving your previous job was painful or a shock.
• Remember you’re not alone. The downturn is affecting hundreds of millions of people world-wide, and joblessness at a time like this is often not a measure of your employability.
• You are not your job. Work is very important to most of us for many reasons, but you are a valuable individual whether you are in employment or not.
• Access resources. Organisations like TSAEP, The Salvation Army Moneycare, and many others provide support available to you. Many government initiatives provide funding for training and other practical needs while you jobsearch. Look online to see what you’re entitled to.

Do you have a tip for jobsearching you’d like to share with others? You can email us here.