Employment tips
1. Self reflection
This will help plan the type of career and environment you would be suited to working in:
- reflect and record your interests, values and motivation
- identify your skills, your knowledge and your career goals
2. Carry out self-assessment activities
Use self-assessment activities to further explore and match careers which are suited to your skills, qualities and characteristics, for example myfuture - My Guide.
3. Gain a qualification and skills toward your chosen career path
You will develop academic skills and qualifications from undergraduate study but should also look to gain other skills which will help your employability.
You can do this by attending short courses, careers events and employer presentations, or gaining work experience or internship experience, or undertaking continuing or postgraduate study.
4. Carry out occupational research
Find out what is required of you in particular occupational areas, for example:
- What experience and education is required?
- What are the necessary skills needed?
- What is the potential growth in the career field?
- What are the future trends?
For occupational information go to myfuture and search through The Facts then to the Industries section.
5. Carry out company research
When you have identified occupations of interest, you need to look at who provides those employment opportunities. Company research is finding out as much information as you can about a company to determine if it is a type of place you would like to work by:
- reading the company's website, press kit, annual report, and other literature
- talking to people who have worked there
- finding out what its competitors and clients say about it
- reading any materials published in the media, including:
- newspapers
- trade publications
- business indexes, and
- the internet
6. Carry out industry research
Each industry has its own nature or characteristics in the workplace. A particular job may fit under several industry banners, some of which you may be better suited to than others.
For example, a marketing graduate may seek work within a marketing company (marketing services industry) or may seek employment in a marketing role but within the sports industry, manufacturing industry or tourism industry.
This may mean doing primarily the same roles and functions but with different sets of employers and companies. When identifying your dream role, look beyond the duties, skills or company to the industry behind it.
To research industry information go to myfuture and search through The Facts then to the Industries section.
7. Carry out informational interviewing
An informational interview is an excellent way for to achieve information about careers and unearth hidden or non-advertised positions. The basic objectives are to find out more about careers and industries directly from the employer.
This practice can assist you to network with potential employers, practice your communication and networking skills, and present yourself, your qualifications and knowledge to a potential employer.
Ask your career counsellor for more information on informational interviewing.
8. Find vacancies
Check advertisements - in national and local newspapers, trade journals and the internet. Check future and current vacancies - there are a variety of websites and online sources.
Some of the more commonly used include:
Canvass employers - a large percentage of jobs are not advertised and employers are waiting for suitable candidates to approach them.
Telephone employers to check if there are possibilities of work, then tailor and prepare an excellent covering letter and resume to send them emphasising why you are interested in their company and their job, and why you would be a suitable candidate.
9. Prepare your résumé and get it checked!
Ask you career counsellor for help and advice in writing a résumé. You should also be able to get good examples of résumés and decide how to tailor yours to the job you are seeking. Your résumé should be accompanied by a covering letter. This gives you the opportunity to say more about why you want the job and why you are well suited to the work.
10. Prepare for the interview - get help and advice
Your career counsellor will help you with information and advice to prepare for interviews. They will be able to give you examples of interview questions. Practice your answers for these interview questions, and also practice and rehearse questions you would like to ask the employer.
Back to top