Searching for a job involves more than just searching on Seek or MyCareer. Find out about four effective ways to find a job

1. Four Ways to Find a Job
Career Development Centre
La Trobe University
December 2012
latrobe.edu.au/students/careers CRICOS Provider 00115M

2. Four Ways to Find a Job
Networks Canvassing
Social Media Advertised
Networking vacancies
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3. Quiz
What % graduates obtained employment from ...
• Advertisement in print media
• Advertisement on internet
• Approached by employer
• Approached employer directly
• Careers fair or info session
• Family or friends
• Other
• Other uni source eg lecturers
• Recruiter/employment agency
• Uni careers service
• Work contacts
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4. Answers
Advertisement on internet 25%
Family or friends 15%
Approached employer directly 10%
Uni careers service 10%
Advertisement in print media 6%
Approached by employer 6%
Other uni source eg lecturers 6%
Work contacts 6%
Careers fair or info session 5%
Recruiter/employment agency 3%
Other 8%
Source: GradStats, Graduate Careers, December 2010
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5. Advertised job vacancies
• Newspapers
• Company websites
• Professional associations
• Recruitment agencies
(see www.rcsa.com.au)
• Employment websites
(see handout for extensive list)
9 December 2012
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6. Australian job advertisements
Job advertisements (total market):
• Online - 82%
• Newspapers – 18%
Job ads online (market share):
• Seek - 68%
• CareerOne - 20%
• MyCareer - 12%
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7. Tips for job websites
• Register your profile so employers can search for you
• Subscribe to job email alerts
• Check everyday for new listings
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8. Tips for Recruitment Agencies
• They work for the employer, not you
• Register with agencies advertising jobs in your field
• Build relationship with recruiter
• Accept short-term / contract roles
• Ask for feedback on resume, interviews
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9. Networking
• Building two-way, mutually beneficial relationships one person at a time
• Reciprocal
• Long term
• One of the most important professional skills you can develop
• It is not about collecting business cards!
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10. How to network
• Talking about you
• Sharing your knowledge with others
• Talking with a purpose
• What do you want?
Names, ideas, introductions?
• Communicate your personal brand
9 December 2012
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11. How to network
Actively listen
Ask the right questions
Be interested in the answers
Ask open ended questions
9 December 2012
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12. At an event
How might you approach someone at a networking event?
9 December 2012
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13. At an event
• Introduce yourself
• Use your ‘elevator pitch’
• Firm handshake, maintain eye contact
• Start a conversation
(avoid anything overly personal, politics, religion, asking directly for a job)
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14. Ending a conversation
“I promised I’d circulate the room, but it’s been great
meeting you. Do you have a card?”
“I’m sure you want to meet other people, so I’ll let you
go. Do you have a card?”
“It’s been great speaking with you. I’ll send you a copy of
my proposal tomorrow. Do you have a card?”
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15. Follow up
If you don’t follow up, what was the point going to the networking event?
Send an email after the event
 Thank you for meeting
 A document or weblink you discussed
 Your resume if appropriate
 Send an invite to join your Linkedin network
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16. Tips
• Always be polite and friendly
• Be proactive and approach employers
• Have an opening line
• Speak clearly
• Leave a conversation gracefully
• Always behave professionally
9 December 2012
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17. Develop your elevator pitch
A brief summary that introduces who you are, your
interests, skills and experiences, and states what you are
seeking
“Hi my name is ... I have recently graduated with a science degree,
majoring in genetics. I’m really interested in how we can use web
2.0 technology to increase people’s awareness of inherited
disorders.”
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18. Develop your elevator pitch
Take 5 minutes to draft out your elevator pitch
What do you want to say about yourself?
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19. Networking Activity
Make contact with 2 people in the room you don’t
already know
Use your elevator pitch
Ask questions / short conversation
End the conversation gracefully
You’ve got 10 minutes!
9 December 2012
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20. Social networking
• Will anything be embarrassing if seen by an employer?
• Make sure privacy settings keep employers separated from friends
Linkedin
• Best for professional networking
• Upload your resume
• Have a professional summary
• Keep up to date with referees and ex-colleagues
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21. How to use LinkedIn
• Add people that you meet
• Join a special interest group related to your field
• Engage in conversations in the interest groups
• Update your status regularly ‘seeking opportunities in...’
• Use the resume builder
• Ask former colleagues and employers to complete a recommendation on your
account
• Follow up your contacts regularly, use the in built email in LinkedIn or send directly
to their email address
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22. Canvassing
Hospitality and retail casual jobs:
• Approach business in person
• Be dressed neatly and appropriately for that industry
• Have your elevator pitch prepared
• Ask to speak with the store manager
• Provide a copy of your resume
• Follow up regularly if no work currently available
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23. Canvassing
For ‘office jobs’
• Identify companies in your industry
• Use your networking technique to meet potential employers (phone call, LinkedIn)
• Arrange an informational interview
• Then, give the employer your resume
9 December 2012
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24. Informational interview
• A meeting initiated by yourself to learn more about an employer, career, industry
• Can be conducted over the phone, in person, via email
• Your chance to ask lots of questions about getting into the industry
• Ask for contacts that may be able to offer you employment
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25. Informational interview
• Prepare for the meeting by writing out a list of questions
• Do some research on the company and person you are meeting
• Have a copy of your resume and business card ready to give to the employer
• Follow up the meeting by sending a thank you email
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26. Summary
In searching for work:
• Set some goals for meeting new contacts
• Work out which websites you will use to search for advertised jobs
• Identify networking events to attend
• Get feedback so you know where to make improvements (cover letter, interviews,
etc)
• Don’t give up
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