Jobs are a fundamental part of most adult Australians’ existence; we are either employed, working to get a job, developing skills so we are ready to take a job or living out retirement on the proceeds of our working life. They may be your ticket to a new car, an overseas holiday, your own place or help you to support your family.
A job is much more than just a way to obtain money in the form of wages though. They also enable you to socialise, build contacts and find support, contributing to your identity and sense of personal achievement.
There are also many different ways of working, from traditional roles where you attend a jobsite or office, remote or flexible opportunities and even working for yourself in a business you own or create.
Our consultants are skilled in finding opportunities that appeal to your skills, aptitude, experience and desires, but to get the most out of your employment search there are a few things you can be doing too:
Plan your future:
Do you have a dream job or an industry you really want to work in?
Your consultant will work with you to identify the strengths and unique skills you can offer an employer right now, and what kind of roles these might make you suited to. However, it is also vitally important to imagine the future you want, as it will help us ensure your progress works towards this goal.
Think about how you could use immediately available roles as steps on a pathway to the position you want. Or identify training opportunities that might help you get there. Could working in a café help you develop business and people skills that may help you open your own shop in a few years? Might undertaking a maintenance position offering to train employees in a wide range of machinery be the first step to becoming a mechanic?
Get your paperwork in order:
To work in Australia you will need to prove you are legally entitled to do so. The best first step to achieve this is to locate or apply for your birth certificate or better yet, photographic identification. Photo ID cards are available for all states and territories, or go a step further and get your learners permit, it’s progress towards obtaining a driving licence and is a valid photo ID that lasts for up to three years.
Most employers will want to pay wages into an Australian Bank account, so setting up an account with a local branch will streamline the process when you receive your first paycheque.
Other considerations may be obtaining a Unique Student Identifier (USI) if your job search includes any roles that will entail formal training such as apprenticeships or traineeships and if you really want to get ahead of the pack, apply for your Tax File Number (TFN). This is a unique identifier for Australian tax and superannuation purposes that all employers will need from you when you accept a position.
Create or refine your resume and cover letter:
While our consultants can help you create these documents for specific roles, if you want to ‘work ahead’ you can start work on writing your own to use as a template, or for jobs you find yourself. A resume and cover letter should be tailored to each role you apply for. However, creating a professional resume and a base cover letter will give you a great starting point for each application. There are hundreds of resume templates online (or download our free resume and cover letter templates).
Employers often make quick decisions based on these documents alone, so ensure your template includes up-to-date contact details, your employment history is in chronological order beginning from your most recent role and if you want to include a photo make it a recent and professional one.
Networking:
Many consultants say that networking is an incredibly effective way of landing your dream job. Essentially, networking is about finding a job using who you know, rather than what you know. You don’t have to wait for a job fair or organised event, networking is about building professional relationships wherever you can to aid your job search or employment progression. Beyond helping you find a job or an opportunity for a new enterprise, networking can also support you to progress your career and even grow personally. Any opportunities to network with employers or peers in your chosen field should be taken up.
If you are doing these things to support your job search, you are doing all in your power to help your consultant secure you a valuable role that will progress your career on the pathway you want.
For any assistance with your employment or training needs, please visit our employment page.