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Candidates

Career Advice

Basic Job seeking and application advice

Proactive Job Seeking:

  • Don't just wait for a position to be advertised in the paper or on a website - be proactive!
  • Many positions are filled by word-of-mouth and direct canvassing.
  • Use your networks of contacts, get your information directly from the employers, register with more than one employment agency and check job websites regularly.
  • Put in time and effort to plan. Be realistic about timeframes, keep records and give job search priority time.
  • Effort and Persistence always pays off!

Selling Yourself:

Your resume and job interview are ideal opportunities to sell yourself:

  • Your skills and experience.
  • If changing roles, indicate to the employer just how transferable your skills are.
  • Show commitment and  enthusiasm.
  • Highlight stability and reliability in your career.
  • Stress value for money.
  • Match your skills, experience and ability to succeed.
  • Always show what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.

 Job Application: 

  • Beforehand telephone the hiring manager, find out more about the job and "soft sell" yourself.
  • An application or introduction letter and your resume (CV) should be designed to get you an interview.
  • Always type applications - never hand write.
  • Address letters to a specific person.

 Job Resume: 

  • Ensure your resume is up-to-date with no errors or gaps in employment dates.
  • Keep personal details brief.
  • Highlight your relevant key competencies, remember those transferable soft skills.
  • Show any recent courses, training, qualifications or certificates.
  • Provide a brief summary of your employment history, ranging from current role backwards to cover about a 10 - 15 year period.
  • Include responsibilities, results, achievements and success.
  • Use any outstanding quotes from references, but do not include full references at this point of time.
  • Include any volunteer or unpaid work, community activities, sporting interests and hobbies.
  • Provide relevant referee names, where possible use the most recent, and work related referees are preferred.