Create a job search strategy
Work out a strategy for your job search. Moving step by
step through a logical plan will help you feel in
control, and increase your chances of finding a job.
Using a strategy means that you:
You can follow the two links above to find out about
those topics. This page deals with all the different
places where you can find jobs.
There are lots of different places to look for a job. Many
jobs are advertised in the open
job market, but the majority are found in the ‘hidden’ job market.
Advertised jobs—the open job market
You can find jobs advertised in the following places.
Centrelink
When you register with Centrelink, they give you
information about searching for jobs. They also tell you
about Centrelink services or programs you might be eligible
for.
In Centrelink offices, you can use the touch screens to
view jobs on Australian JobSearch.
Visit the Centrelink home
page to find out about their other services.
Career or
job fairs
Some employment agencies, universities and industries hold
job expos or fairs. At these events, industries promote
themselves as career options, and employers give out
information about their companies and their current
vacancies.
You can often apply for a position right there at the expo
or fair, so take a few copies of your resume with you,
dress neatly and have a skills statement prepared in case
there’s an opportunity for an on-the-spot interview.
Newspapers
Newspapers—daily or weekly; local, state or national—carry a
lot of job ads. But only about 20–30 per cent of jobs are
advertised in the paper. And because some job hunters
only look in the paper, competition for these jobs is
very strong. Don’t use newspapers as your only source.
In Australia’s major newspapers jobs are advertised every
day, but Wednesday’s and Saturday’s paper will carry the most
ads.
Check your local papers, too. The job you want may be just
around the corner from you.
When you find a job that looks good,
this article might help you decide how to go for it.
Tip!
- Look in the careers or employment section of the
classified ads, but also look in the main news section,
or in the business section.
- Read the whole careers and employment section of
the paper. Ads are grouped by profession and industry,
but the job you want may be in a different section from
the one you expect.
- Read the job descriptions and requirements to make
sure you don’t miss a suitable job. Job titles can be
confusing. They can mean different things in different
workplaces; a job may sound like your current one, but
have quite different requirements.
- Take your newspaper search one step further. Which
employers are advertising the sorts of positions you’re
interested in? Find out who their competitors are, or
other employers who operate in similar industries.
Approach those, too, about possible current or future
vacancies.
- Don’t just read the ads. More general articles in
the career and employment section, or in the business
section, will tell you about trends, businesses or
projects that are starting up or expanding. You can
apply before jobs are even advertised.
Radio
Some radio stations regularly broadcast local job
vacancies. Listen in for these ‘job spots’.
Internet
The Internet is a popular tool for job searches. Lots of
employers lodge job vacancies with employment agencies, who
advertise them online.
Internet job searching is flexible; you can search by
industry, job type or geographic location, or use
combinations of search terms to narrow the search. You can
also lodge a resume online, or subscribe to have e-mails
sent to you about job vacancies in your area of interest.
Popular Australian sites that recruit for all industries
include:
Some sites specialise in, say, information technology or
hospitality jobs.
Many workplaces advertise vacancies or career opportunities
on their home page, and with some you can lodge your
details online.
Australian JobSearch
Whether you are looking for a job or career change, you
can use jobsearch.gov.au, Australia's largest free
online job site. Job seekers can upload their resume and
browse for thousands of jobs across all industries and
regions of Australia.
Job Services Australia providers and many employers
advertise their vacancies on jobsearch.gov.au. Job seekers can access
JobSearch on computers at over 1300 Job Services
Australia provider sites and 316 Centrelink Customer
Service Centres nationwide.
There are many free services available on jobsearch.gov.au. You can register for free,
use the online resume training tool and apply for jobs
online. Create your own personal profile page and find
out about apprenticeships and traineeships.
Public
service
The Australian and state or territory governments regularly
advertise for staff in newspapers, including some
entry-level (graduate) positions.
Every Thursday they advertise permanent vacancies in the
Australian Public Service Gazette, which you can
find at most public libraries or online.
Positions are generally open for anyone to apply.
Individual departments usually recruit graduates during
March and August.
To find government jobs using Australian
JobSearch:
- Select the ‘Government’ category.
- Select a department and/or a region.
- Click the ‘Search For Jobs’ button.
To find out more about government agencies, go to the
Australian government’s home page and visit
each agency’s home website.
Defence Services
Find army, navy and air force job opportunities on the
Job Services Australia touch screens or
website.
Job Service Australia providers
Providers of Job Services Australia are private and
community organisations set up to find jobs and provide
employment and training related services for unemployed
people. They are funded by the Australian Government.
Employment agencies
There are some jobs that you can only find out about through
employment agencies. Agencies regularly contact employers to
ask about job openings, and employers lodge vacancies
directly with agencies. Many employers have exclusive
arrangements with agencies.
Employment agencies come in different sizes, from
individually-run offices to large international corporations.
Different agencies offer different services. Some agencies
specialise in one occupational area, others in several
related areas; some specialise in entry-level positions,
others in executive searches. Make sure you know what kind of
agency it is that you’re approaching.
Employment agencies advertise in the Yellow Pages, in the
careers and employment sections of newspapers, and online.
To get a job through an agency, you register with that
agency. Usually this means completing a registration or
application form. Sometimes it involves undergoing a skills
test for certain jobs like computing or administration.
Tip!
- It’s OK to register with more than one agency. This
gives you a greater chance of being referred to a job.
- Once you’ve registered, don't wait for the agency
to ring you. Manage your job search and keep in touch
with them.
- Prepare for a meeting with the agency in the same
way as you would prepare for a job interview; dress
appropriately and have all your information at your
fingertips.
- Always be polite and pleasant when you deal with an
agency; this way, they’ll be more likely to recommend
you to employers.
- Enquire about training; some agencies offer
training to upgrade your skills and make you more
marketable.
Tertiary institution
careers services
If you’re studying or a graduate, your university or
tertiary institution’s careers and employment service can
tell you about job vacancies.
Go to the Graduate Careers Australia website.
Select ‘Campus Contacts’ and click on the name of your
university to find the centre’s contact details.
Labour hire and
temporary agencies
Just like employment agencies, privately run labour hire or
temp agencies match available workers to available jobs.
Unlike employment agencies, it’s the labour hire firm or
temp agency that becomes your employer once you register,
assigning you to various different jobs.
Temporary jobs are a great way to build up your skills and
get experience while you earn money. Some employers use
temp agencies to evaluate workers before they offer them
permanent employment, so quite often a temporary position
leads to full-time work.
Group training
organisations
Group training organisations employ apprentices and
trainees, and place them with host employers. When you join
a group training organisation, you can be sure you’ll get
continuous work or training.
Professional and industry
journals
Professional and industry journals often run job
advertisements, or in-depth articles about industry
trends.
Look for these journals in your local, university or TAFE
libraries. If they regularly advertise jobs you’re
interested in, you might think about subscribing to them.
Notice
boards
Keep an eye out for job vacancy notices in such places as:
- shop windows
- shop counters
- community notice boards (at supermarkets, shopping
centres, libraries)
- at the front entrance to businesses
- near on-site projects
- outside factory gates.
The hidden
job market
Many employers need workers, but don’t advertise jobs. Others
send around information about upcoming jobs before they
advertise them. To get access to this ‘hidden’ job market,
you have to be a bit more self-motivated than with advertised
jobs.
Start off by researching the industries you’re interested in.
The Yellow Pages is one place to start, but there are
other sources of contact details and information about
employers. Write down a list of employers to approach for
work.
It’s hard to start approaching employers for work, but it’s
important that you train yourself to be comfortable about
doing so. Go to employers confidently and with a clear idea
of how you can meet their needs. There is always the
possibility that they will create a position after meeting
you and realising that they can use your skills. Job
searching in this way shows that you can take the initiative
and are committed to finding the right job for you.
This article about
researching jobs, employers and their needs may help you.
And this one about
networking will help you think about ways you might hear
of upcoming jobs.