Guide to Finding Employment in GeelongAustralia
Guide to Finding Work inGeelong Australia
Index
Introduction3
Victorian State Government Assistance3
General Assistance3
How do I find a job in Australia?4
Published Job Market4
- Advertised Job Vacancies
- Government Assistance - Job Network Agencies
- Employment Recruitment Agencies
- Corporate Websites
Unpublished Job Market6
- Hidden Employment Market
- Networking
How to Apply for a Job in Australia7
Introductory Letter or Cover Letter7
- Example of Cover Letter
Address the Key Selection Criteria9
- How to address the key selection criteria
- Example of Addressing the Selection Criteria
Resume (or Curriculum Vitae)11
- Preparing Your Resume to Australian business standards
- Resume Checklist
What to include in Your Resume13
- Personal Details
- Career Summary
- Work Experience
- Education & Qualifications
- Victorian Government Overseas Qualifications Unit
- Specialist Skills
- Further Training
- Memberships
- Referees/References
- Example of Resume
Job Interviews21
Preparing for the Interview21
Interviews Questions21
- Opportunity to Sell Yourself
- Your Level of Organisational Skills
- Your ability to show Initiative / performance
- Long-term goals
- General Knowledge about the Company
- General Questions
- Gaps in your Resume
- Inappropriate Questions
- Skill Testing
Talking Salary23
After the interview23
If you are unsuccessful23
Useful Contacts24
Last updated December 2012
Introduction
All countries have generally accepted business standards or practices for the way people find employment.
This guide summarises the way in which Australians find work.
VictorianState Government Assistance
The Victorian State Government through its website:
( see: ) provides a range of useful information and tips about finding employment in Victoria, preparing your resume to Australian Standards and preparing for interviews.
If you are a skilled or business migrant and you have recently arrived in Victoria, you can register to attend a freeindustry or business seminar to help make your move to Victoria a success. From the website, go to Finding a Job then Applying for a Job then Employment Networks and Support. This site will outline the date of the next seminar.
You can also contact the Department directly by E-mail: .
General Assistance
Additional information is available from a wide number of websites, books, publications and guides.
A selection of website links that you may find useful to help you find work and meet Australian business standards are listed below. These websites advertise employment vacancies and also provide information on finding a job including writing an introductory letter or cover letter, addressing selection criteria, preparing your resume and attending an interview.
Salary, advice and Tips Tab -
Career Advice Tab -
Advice and Research –
Interview Questions -
Further information on job searching techniques can be found by browsing the internet.
In addition, there is also a range of books and guides that have been prepared especially to assist jobseekers from overseas find work in Australia.
Publishing company Tribus Lingua offers a series of books and CDs on employment in Australia for Skilled Migrants:
How do I find a job in Australia?
Looking for work is a full-time job in itself and you need to dedicate the appropriate amount of time to finding a job. When you arrive in Australia, you will need to start networking and make local contacts with recruitment companies, devote time to familiarising yourself with websites that advertise job vacancies, carry out research on companies and prepare for interviews.
Finding a job in your skill area will require effort and you need to make sure that you understand how the process works in Australia.
All countries have accepted business standards for the way employment vacancies are filled. In Australia, employment vacancies can be published or unpublished.
Published Job Market
The published job market includes:
- Advertised Job Vacancies (newspapers or websites)
- Government Assistance - Job Network Agencies
- Employment Recruitment Agencies
- Corporate Websites
Unpublished Job Market
The unpublished job market includes:
- Hidden employment vacancies
- Networking/Referrals
Published Job Market
Advertised Job Vacancies
In Australia, the most common method for employers to advertise employment vacancies is through the newspaper or on a website. People interested in that vacancy then apply in writing usually by submitting three documents:
- An introductory letter
- A document addressing the selection criteria. Note, that if key selection criteria are outlined in an advertisement, it is imperative that you prepare a document that addresses each criteria.
- Resume
The Geelong Advertiser is Geelong’s daily newspaper. Each Saturday and Wednesday an Employment Guide is published containing local job vacancies. The Geelong News and Independent papers that are delivered free to all households also have smaller employment sections. There is also a number of Australia-wide web based internet sites that specialise in advertising employment vacancies. The vacancies that appear in the Geelong advertiser also appear in the websites listed below.
Seek Region)
Career One Region)
Jobs Region)
MyCareer Region)
Australian Job Search (Geelong Region)
You will need to earmark “Geelong” in your search to find Geelong employment vacancies. Alternatively, the main postcode for Geelong is 3220.
Government Assistance - Job Network Agencies
Centrelink is the Australian Government agency that provides a range of services to the community including financial support for those in need, such as those who are unemployed.
You need to check your visa type to see if you are eligible for Government financial support through Centrelink. Some visa types have exclusion periods or waiting periods for the amount of time you have to wait before you are eligible. New migrants, who are not given refugee or humanitarian status, may have to wait two years before they are eligible for Centrelink payments.
More information on Centrelink can be found at
Entitlements by visa type are listed in a table found at publications.
JobNetwork Agencies
In addition to financial support, Centrelink funds a range of employment agencies located throughout Australia called Job Network Agencies.
Skilled migrants who hold a Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) visa (subclass 495) are eligible for a Job Seeker Search Only number (JSSO) provided by either Centrelink or through their Job Network Agencies.
Job Network Agencies will also provide you with access to computers, the use of internet services, telephone, facsimile and a photocopy machine for job searching purposes.
Job Network Agencies located in Geelong include:
Bluestone Recruitment
Centrelink(Department of Human Services)
CQ Recruitment
Direct Recruitment Pty Ltd
Diversitat
G Force Staffing
Matchworks
St Laurence
Workskil
Employment Recruitment Agencies
There are a number of private employment recruitment agencies that operate in Geelong. These agencies recruit staff on behalf of employers. Each agency specialises in particular skill areas or occupations. Visit each website and familiarise yourself with the types of occupations they specialise in.
AGB Group (03) 5248 0232
CQ Recruitment 1300 563 977
Direct Recruitment Pty Ltd (03) 5221 3880
Hays Recruitment (03) 5226 8000
Mentor 1300 218 933
People @ Work (03) 5221 5599
Skilled Engineering (03) 5278 8944
Tracy the Placement People (03) 5229 8681
Corporate Websites
Many larger Australian companies advertise their employment vacancies on their own websites. It may be worth checking the corporate website of companies that offer positions in your skill area to see if there are any positions vacant.
Unpublished Job Market
Hidden Employment Market
Many job vacancies are never advertised but are filled through informal networks such as word-of-mouth (referral) or cold calling (contact a company to see if there are any job vacancies). This is referred to as the "hidden job market".
Finding hidden vacancies in your skill area requires effort on your part. You will need to research the companies that offer positions in your skill area, identify the ones that may be worth approaching and then contact them.
The internet will be a fantastic tool to use to start your research on who offers positions in your skill area. You could a general web search (ie. Health services Geelong) or use local telephone directories such as:
Local Business Directory:
Residential Directory
Business Directory
You can find out more about companies by checking their website or by using annual reports, customer newsletters, trade magazines, product brochures and catalogues. Geelong based professional associations, which represent industry sectors, are another good source of information.
To learn more about trends in your industry sector, you can also scan the Geelong Advertiser Employment Guide over a month or period of time to ascertain trends in various sectors.
Once you have identified a list of companies which could be potential employers, you need to contact them. One method is to develop a letter of introduction, prepare a standard selection criteria letter that highlights your skills and prepare a resume then send it to the company. An alternative is to telephone the company directly and seek to make an appointment with an appropriate person to meet with them.
Networking
When you arrive in Australia, it is important to start meeting people and participate in as many professional functions as possible. This is a good way to begin networking to advance your prospects of finding a job.
Becoming a member of an Industry Association or Network in your skill area may help you meet people from your own profession. The Live in Victoria website has a list of associations.
See Working Employment>Victorian Industries
Also Working & Employment>Get Connected, Get A Job
Attending local trade shows, seminars or conferences is also a useful way to meet people. These events are often advertised in the local newspaper or on the Geelong Chamber of Commerce website. If you attend these functions, you need to make the most of trying to talk to as many people as you can.
Once you begin to make local contacts, you can meet people who can act as local referees and whom you can use on your resume.
Making local friends will also help you learn more about Geelong and where you can locate services and various facilities. Skilled migrants, who have recently been through the same experience as you, are a great source of information.
How to Apply for a Job in Australia
Once you have identified the position(s) you wish to apply for, you will need to prepare three key pieces of documentation:
- An introductory letter or ‘cover’ letter
- Key Selection Criteria – it is imperative that you prepare a document that addresses each criteria if this is requested.
- A resume also known as CV or Curriculum Vitae
Introductory Letter or Cover Letter
When you send out your Resume / Curriculum Vitae, whether it be to apply for a formal job or if you are “cold calling” companies, you need to include a letter of introduction or a cover letter. This letter is a fantastic opportunity for you to summarise why you would be the ideal person for the job.
Each time you apply for a job you should customise a cover letter especially for that job. That is, you should match what the employer is looking for with your relevant experiences and skills. Using a standard letter leaves all the matching of skills and experience to the employer. When there are many applications, you may be overlooked. A standard cover letter can be interpreted as a sign of laziness.
A cover letter must include:
- Date
- Your name, address and contact details
- Name and address of the person and company you are applying to. (Larger companies often have more than one job being advertised at the same time)
- Greeting
- Reference to the position title and job number if identified
- Strong, brief statement using key words emphasising how you would be the best person for the job that also demonstrates your knowledge of the company and shows that you have read the job advertisement carefully
- Statement that you are looking forward to the opportunity of an interview
- Sign-off
- Signature
Greeting
To start your letter you should greet the person or position as nominated in the advertisement if one appears.
For example: 1.If the advertisement has a contact name, then address your correspondence to the contact, for example: Mr Anthony Jones. You would address your greeting as Dear Mr Jones.
2.If there is only a title, such as Human Resources Manager, then you would address the letter as per the title, Dear Human Resources Manager
3.Where there is no name or position, the greeting would just be Dear Sir / Madam
If you are writing to a company to seek work and you have the name of the person you wish to contact, then you would use the general greeting of Dear Mr Smith. If you have met the person and know them, you can address your greeting as Dear Frank.
Sign off
To finish off your cover letter the greeting is
If you don’t know their nameYours faithfully
If you know their nameYours sincerely
If you have met themYours truly
EXAMPLE ONLY
Mr Gary Branch
5/23 Tree Street
BELMONT VICTORIA 3216
Home: (03) 8271 4884
Mobile: 1234 770 037
E-mail:
1 March 2012
Human Resources Manager
Target Australia Pty Ltd
12 Thompson Road
NORTH GEELONG VICTORIA 3215
Dear Human Resources Manager
RE: SENIOR SALES MANAGER POSITION: 1569
I wish to apply for the position of Senior Sales Manager as advertised in the Age newspaper Saturday 27 September 2008.
“write a couple of paragraphs that summarise your skills use key words emphasising how you would be the best person for the job that also demonstrates your knowledge of the company and shows that you have read the job advertisement carefully”
Please find attachedmy resume and a letter addressing the key selection criteria.
I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my Resume with you at an interview.
Yours faithfully
(signature)
Gary Branch
Address the Key Selection Criteria
Where an employer has prepared a specific outline of the job or a job description, it is essential that you prepare a separate page where you respond to the key selection criteria. The key selection criteria are the “must haves/essentials” that an employer is looking for and will be listed in the Position Description. The cover letter, key selection criteria and resume should complement one another.
How to address the key selection criteria
- Create a new document separate from your resume. Make sure it has the same look and feel to your cover letter.
- Use each of the stated selection criteria in the position description as a heading.
- Under each of the heading describe how you are able to meet the criteria. Use examples to support what you are claiming.
The following are two examples of selection criteria that employers have used to attract people to job vacancies. Although the style is different, they both provide important clues for responding to the selection criteria.
Job Vacancy Example – Selection Criteria:
Management Accounting
- Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent, with Accounting and/or IT major (completed or nearing completion)
- Knowledge of Retail Accounting an advantage
- Proficient spreadsheet (Excel) and database skills
- Ability to multitask and prioritize work load
- Competent in using TM1 an advantage
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and analysis skills
Job Vacancy Example – Selection Criteria:
Microbiology Team Leader
Essential criteria for this role includes a Bachelor of Science majoring in Microbiology (or equivalent), experience performing microbiological test procedures and good organisational skills. It is desirable that the incumbent has excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as demonstrated problem solving skills. Knowledge of GMP, GLP and experience working in a laboratory-testing environment is essential.
Applicants should complete an on line application form and submit a current resume and covering letter, addressing the selection criteria above.
The selection criteria would address each of the points or criteria mentioned in the position description.
An example of the key selection criteria for the Management Accounting job is shown:
EXAMPLE ONLY
Resume of Mr Gary Branch Phone:03 82724880
Key Selection Criteria
Management Accountant
Relevant Tertiary Qualifications
Explain that you have the qualifications being sought / something equivalent / working towards something / have completed something higher.
Extensive Accounting Experience
Outline your accounting experience and knowledge. Include experience of the retail sector or how what you have done in the past relates to this sector.
Extensive technical capability
Outline your spreadsheet experience and how proficient you are in its use. Include any experience in TM1 database skills.
Excellent organisation skills
Explain your level of skill in multi tasking, how you cope under pressure and in meeting deadlines.
Highly developed interpersonal, communication and analysis skills
Outline your ‘people’ skills – that is, how you relate to colleagues such as management, peers and clients (interpersonal). Outline your proficiency in written and oral communication and your ability to analyse information.
Resume (or Curriculum Vitae)
Your resume will be one of the most important tools that you have to help you find a job.
Two quick facts about job hunting in Australia:
On average, an employer will take about 35 seconds to scan your resume and make a decision on whether it will be placed into the Yes, No or Maybe pile.
When you apply for a position through the newspaper or the internet, there are likely to be many applicants for the same position. Your resume needs to stand out. It will need to conform to Australian practice as well as be different from all the others applying for the same job.
It is imperative that your resume is a work-in-progress, that is, it needs to be constantly updated with any new work experience or training and be tailored to each position you are applying for.
Preparing Your Resume for Australian employers