RESUME, CAPABILITY LEVELS, COVER LETTERS AND MUCH,  MUCH MORE !!

Applying for a job, especially within government sectors can be very tricky and a bit scary! Here are a few helpful tips to get you started:-

Be prepared to:

• spend hours and hours of research and writing
• focus strongly on how you meet the capabilities for the role
• prepare solid examples of past work experiences that would prove your experience
• pre-write all the responses prior to entering on-line application and then cut and paste
• check for all errors, spelling as well as grammar
• meet the on-line application deadline

if all else fails, we can help you with our job application services which cover all the sticky and tricky aspects of applying for “that” job. The intent of a great application is to secure you an interview, and that where our JOB APPLICATION SERVICES may help!  Here are the 3 major services we provide:

JOB APPLICATION SERVICES

Career consultation

 This will help you develop a vital job marketing plan. The session includes a professional consultation and review of your career path and your goals; comprehensive information on relevant job market and possible transferable roles.

$120 per hour

Resume Basic Service

Provides a review of existing resume, including minor edits and enhancing formatting as it aligns with relevant industry standard.

USB copy and cover letter template supplied.

(Copy of current resume in Word format is required)

$150 for the basic kit

 Resume – Superior comprehensive service

Resume review and complete rewrite; prepare responses to capability statements; address mandatory criteria plus cover letter

USB copy of documents

$350 for comprehensive service

Contact Ivana Agapiou Resume writer and career advisor  on 0404056278 to help your next application get you to THAT interview!

The post It’s complicated! Resume/cover letters/capability levels, WHOOO!! appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Your resume is one of the main ways employers have of making a judgement of your ability to perform a role.

Your document requires structure and a pathway of understanding for your reader. It should not be a difficult maze of distracting information to navigate.

It should  reflect who you are, what you have done and what you could offer a new employer; it should not be an example of how much you don’t care about the impression you’re making.

Seriously, the resume that is highlighted below was an actual, live application (yes all the names and contact details have been changed to protect the innocent)

The font size and the layout is exactly as it presented and Dear Ruby (not her real name) was applying for a role as an office assistant. We have left all the errors intact so that you can judge for yourself.

This IS a BAD resume and it will not be able to allow Ruby to get to an interview.

• How many errors can you find?
• What judgement did you make of Ruby as a potential employee?
• Would you refer her to a position within your business?
• What advice would you give Ruby on improving her resume as well as he approach to work outside of Hospitality industry eg for Office work?

check this real example (names changed ) READ ON!

 …………………………………………………………………….

RESUME

 NAME:                Ruby Brown

ADDRESS:          Yada Yada NSW 2444

DOB:                    6^th December 1996

MARTAL STATUE:      single

MOBILE:            0400 600 211

EMAIL:               hotchick96@hotmail.com

PREVOUS EMPLOYMENT:                                  

September 2010 – currence

Company: Flynns on the water Café

Place: Port Macquarie

Position: Barista, Waitress and Cook

Duties:

• Taking orders
• Preparing food
• Customer service
• Cleaning
• Cooking meals takeaway and dine in
• Opening and closing the café
• Ordering stock
• Barista – Making Coffees
• Waitress
• Cash handling

November 2011 – April 2013

Company: Real Expensive Property

Place: Port Macquarie

Position: Traineee Property Manager –

Duties included:

• Answering the phone
• Scheduling and Conducting viewings of rental properties
• Scheduling and Conducting routine inspections

November 2012 – 2014

Company :Boring as anything

Place: Hell on Earth

Position: Admin

Duties included

• Organising repairs/sending work orders
• Entering new tenants in REST
• Updating owners on their investments weekly
• Sending emails
• Receipting rent and water
• Adding, editing and removing rental properties on Port Plus
• Archiving and allocating documents

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS                                                           

2014 Peak Coffee Coarse Module 1, 2 & 3 completed, Port Macquarie

2012 McCafe Barista Certificate completed, Port Macquarie

2013 finished highschool

REFERENCES:                                                                                                      

Joe Blogg

Manager

Mcdonalds

Hobbies

Surfing; swimming; crafts;singing; dancing; going out with friends; music; football; social media;gym; singing

How many errors did you find? This resume is in serious need of an overhaul!

Having your own troubles with resume writing – talk with our expert Ivana Agapiou resume writer and career advisor 

0404056278

The post OMG! A Resume with a bad attitude! appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

The new reality is unpredictable.

The post The new reality appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Spend valuable time on the writing, thinking, planning and reviewing and it will be worth every minute!

• It should be a breeze. A walk in the park. A lovely relaxing think, but all too often talking about ourselves in positive light, is the most difficult thing to do. Most of us need help with learning the Key secrets to writing responses to Key Section Criteria and other tricky demands of the application process.

Job Applications that require responses to  Key Selection Criteria (KSC)- or Capability Statements, can be an excruciating experience…especially if you don’t know what to do!

Firstly, you must respond to the Key Selection Criteria. If you only send in your Cover Letter and Resume for a job that has a request for you to respond to Key Selection Criteria your application will immediately be discarded

Don’t assume that employers or the selection panel will pull the information out of your application package and pick up the salient points.  They will not!  Even if they had the spare time for such insight, they are not allowed to infer anything.

Here are some General hints to follow when responding to KSC (Key selection Criteria)

• Read the vacancy announcement carefully  ( I often read it out aloud and slowly – it helps!)
• Gather the information needed to begin writing
• Be specific and be precise
• Get to the point and don’t ramble
• Use poignant examples to support your assertions (current and past colleagues may be able to assist you remember)
• State specifically what you have done, and the results or outcomes
• Do not use acronyms
• Present yourself in “clear and plain” language
• Do not borrow language from the position description
• Make sure you answer each Key Selection Criteria separately. NEVER, ever, write a response that combines 2 or more Key Selection Criteria in one response or write, eg, refer to para 1 or refer to resume
• Study each Key Selection Criteria very carefully. Note the language used and the very specific areas the question covers. Underline any key words and phrases. Then write your response.

For each Key Selection Criteria, delve into your career history and work experience and come up with an example that demonstrates the particular skill or experience that you are being asked for. Try to find examples of a project that was completed (i.e. something that started and ended, with a definable result, while you were there) and write a response outlining what you actually did to assist with the project

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) structure to respond to the Key Selection Criteria

Keep your responses to Key Selection Criteria within the guidelines on the advertisement.

Keep it succinct and brief. More than 3 or 4 pages per criterion is almost certainly too much. Less than this is to brief and more than this will put you at risk of waffling. Please Note that waffling does not cut it. The questions are very specific and it’s critical you provide specific responses.

There are a number of publications and further information on the web .Let us know if  these tips are useful!

Ivana Agapiou resume writer and career advisor

0404 056 278

The post Let’s explore the Excruciating “Writing Part” for Key Selection Criteria appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

A job that equals your passion. Are you capable of blending both?

Does your passion translate well into your resume?

Some applicants insert  famous quotes in their resumes? not sure how effective this is, however, inspirational ideas and quotes from successful people are useful to help us remain focused and motivated.

Here are some inspirational quotes to help. Which one resonates the most to you?

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” —Nelson Mandela

I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do.” — Georgia O’Keefe

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there’s love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” —Ella Fitzgerald

“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” —Theodore Roosevelt

“What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” —Bob Dylan

“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” —Farrah Gray

“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” —Vincent can Gogh

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” —Nelson Mandela

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.” —Neil Gaiman

“It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” —Mae Jemison

Do you have a quote that encourages you to follow your passion? Write your own here!

Ivana Agapiou resume writer

The post Does your JOB equal your passion? appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Looking out, the grass can always appear greener. Make sure you research the future job, and your motives for moving.. before you leap!

Feeling trapped in the job you have? looking for another job? Here are a few tips before you launch into resignation or even worse, lose your cool and walk out! Sometimes, we can find ourselves in a job that is not working out. There may be a number of diverse factors for this…

• boredom
• the tasks are becoming more difficult
• conflicts with other staff or management
• pay rate too low
• high expectations
• increase of hours for no extra recognition
• wrong job at the wrong time
• taking work home with you

The list is endless. Whatever the reason for your unhappiness, make sure you plan your escape carefully. Here are a few tips:-

1. Take any leave owed to you as this will help you to revive and review the situation, without being 100% in the workplace. Hopefully you can get away from it all and have some “me” time to consider your options with a clear head.
2. Talk to friends who can listen and not necessary advise, just listen. Sometimes hearing your own voice can assist you in forging a solution yourself.
3. Visit a Doctor and have a general health check and a chat about your current stress
4. Sit down and write a life plan which should include what your financial/ family /health goals are – a good question to ask is “Where would you like to be in the next 5 years” for example, do you want to move to the Metro or country? If you had to describe what your dream would be… then write it down!
5. Writing your goals and plan for the next few years, is the most important aspect of this journey

Once you have completed your plan, and you have concluded that you are going to leave your current job, consider your exit plan carefully.

Your first step into the new, is to check out your old resume and make sure it’s ready for the journey ahead!

Ivana Agapiou – resume writer and career advisor

The post Feeling Trapped in your current job? appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Do yourself a favour and Raise your self-awareness.

Know thyself.

The saying “Know thyself” is an essential ingredient for ensuring a successful life.  When faced with conflicts or challenges, Self awareness is the essential EQ ingredient that will save the day.

When the rubber hits the road, how do you react?   Sometimes in a conflict situation, we are so caught up with emotion, indignation and self-righteousness that we cannot get ourselves out of the difficulties without bitterness, heartbreak and sorrow.  Our emotions can block clear thinking.

Manage conflicts better

Conflicts and unexpected disasters are a natural part of living.  It could be a job loss or personal conflicts at work, it may even be as simple as a misunderstanding or miscommunication. If you are unable to forge through most these and come out the other end a “better” person for the experience, then you will find your life and your future happiness and well-being will suffer as well as your personal and professional growth.  There is a “HOWEVER”,  however, if you don’t know how you react, and how this affects others and the outcomes from life challenges,  you will never grow and learn.

RAISE

I recently had the pleasure of listening to a speech that “raised” my spirits and confirmed for me that it is always worth the effort and pain to take the high road and become the better person when dealing with conflict or life’s storms. The speaker used the following acronym R.A. I. S. E to help explain how his life was enhanced by “working though” problems he was experiencing raising his wayward son.  Rather than the easier path of “letting him go on a negative and self-destructive path, he choose to work through the issues and battle on.

He’s a little of what he said, The acronym R. A. I. S. E  was of benefit to him though his trauma and he used it this way

Responsibility, Take responsibility for your actions and your part in the story, each event is there and often you have played a part either covertly or overtly. Own up, face up and take the responsibly seriously. In his case, being a better parent.

Acceptance, Accept that this has happened/ is happening and that that is life. No use denying it’ it’s real and needs to be addressed.

Improvement, Seek ways to behave better, be nobler, more loving, more kind, be a better human being.

Strength, Remain resilient, remain focused and strong. Demonstrate that you can, and you will see this through.

Empathy, There are always many sides to  any story,  always strive to see it from the other view points.

By being more self-aware you will be able to behave in a more authentic manner, often increasing your confidence and general state of happiness!

This simple acronym worked well for my friend,  and I believe would work well for you too!  It’s all about taking stock, pausing and being self-aware. Understanding that no matter what the conflict matter is, we all have a responsibility to look inwards and analyse whether we can improve the situation or we can choose to continue to harbor resentment, sadness and even anger.

Ivana Agapiou, career and outplacement – resume writer

The post Self-awareness, a Jewel in the E.Q crown appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

LIVING and working in Port Macquarie, a dream and a reality, however it has it’s challenges.

How do I find a job in Port Macquarie?  is our number one – most frequently asked question!

Yes, we have a ton of people wanting to move here and every day we respond to calls from all over the place from people who want to relocate away from the maddening city life.

The major reason for discontentment is the long commute to and from work in the Metro areas.

How do you get a job in one of the most beautiful and progressive places in Australia? Here are 5 useful tips

1) Research, research and research again

Find out who are the major employers; where are the majority of the jobs; what are the main industries; what is the average cost of a home or an apartment?; are the rents reasonable?

2) be prepared to compromise on income

you may never receive the same salary as in the Metro areas – this is a sad fact

3) adapt and be versatile

Many jobs in Regional areas require you to be flexible in your approaches – for example, a job in the Metro may be quite linear, whereas in Regional areas, you have to be prepared to wear several hats in the same job and not be paid more for the extra accountability or responsibility

4) be personal and up close

be prepared to understand that in small towns, almost everyone knows everyone. You will not be an “anonymous” and it’s more difficult to hide and be isolated!

5) check out the networks

There are a number of robust networks for example, Hastings Women’s Business; http://www.hbwn.com.au/Hastings Business Enterprise Network; Port Macquarie Chamber of commercehttp://www.portchamber.com.au/

I hope you enjoy your transition to the more rural areas of Australia and in particular, NSW.  All the very best for your new future in a wonderful part of the world.

Lastly, make sure your resume is up to date and can reflect your ability to be flexible!

Ivana Agapiou resume writer #FIGJAMresumes #resumes #resume #jobapplications

The post How do I find a job in Port Macquarie? appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

 Job loss or job opportunity?

Being separated from one’s job is extremely challenging because many of us closely identify by what we “do” for a living.

When the job is taken away, we can lose track of who we are and even why we are,  Emotional issues aside, many of us are able to identify the practical issues, from determining how long our financial resources will sustain, to deciding if a career change was in order. In other words, practical planning for the future.

Eather Recruitment conduct Outplacement Services, and through guided facilitation, many came to terms with important emotional and practical issues, and also come to terms with ( I use the old term “moving on”) and   “Where to go from here?” .

Most importantly, consider why you lost your job – often the Company downsized, so, it was not your fault. Determine if this was an industry trend  and if there still is a future within the same field. Career change  is always a serious consideration, and if not a possibility for you, maybe this difficult stage can be a good opportunity to spruce up some skills in order to increase marketability within the current and future job market.

Rather than looking at a job loss as a horrible thing, (for too long) many consider the possible positive implications of this situation. Taking the time to make some positive changes — like switching careers or industries; or learning some new skills and improving upon existing ones; or perhaps consider relocating. The outplacement services help to identify transferable skills and possible links to other industries and jobs. There is nothing like an objective and evaluative view of your skills, knowledge and experience and how these can be best utilized in the current job market. It’s very empowering to hear a recruitment professional provide you with positive and affirming evaluation, constructive criticism that is meaningful and useful. Add the knowledge of the job market and the advice on a great resume, and you have the ingredients for a great future.

Are you looking forward to your next opportunity? Because you never know what doors this turn of events may open for you. I steal a quote from Mark Twain, ” you have to go out on a limb to grab the fruit” risk is what life is all about!

Many are very receptive during the outplacement sessions, and post sessions, Eather Recruitment are always here to provide further Job assistance or support.

The support on offer can range from simply forging a new resume, to regular sessions that help to flesh out career and personal goals. Job search and job applications are also an area of assistance.

Whatever your needs, whatever your direction we are here to assist you to achieve your goals sooner rather than later!

Outplacement Services are available

Ivana Agapiou – outplacement consultant and resume writer

Eather Recruitment 0404 056 278 – Here are some further links that may assist

More Job Loss Help

• How to Deal With Sudden Unemployment
• 5 Things Not to Do When You Leave Your Job
• Preparing for a Layoff

Elsewhere on About

• Surviving a Layoff
• Pink Slip? What Next?
• Bare-Bones Budgeting

Related Articles

• Job Loss Etiquette

The post Job loss, a disaster or a chance for unfulfilled desires? appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

The difference between winning or losing that job..

“OMG! Did I really say that?” How many times have  you heard yourself say this, after a job interview? That play back “cringe” that you experience and that after-shock while you rewind your performance at the interview and worry yourself sick over what you said, how you said it, or didn’t say, or could’ve said .. coulda-woulda-shouda

All I can say is that experience is a damn fine thing, so keep applying for roles and keep attending as many interviews as you can. When you are rewinding and reliving your interview experience, try to remember the great and the good things you did too!  Many interviewees suffer the after-shame, and many get better the next time round! Just in case you don’t already know, here are  13 tips on what you must NEVER say or do! Memorize these mandatory rules …  here are the DON’Ts

1. Bag or bad mouth past or current employers, claiming a negative experience – wrong! Stay positive and sound grateful!
2. Over-talk and bang on and on…just answer the question your were asked succinctly and precisely
3. Avoid eye contact – make sure you connect with the interviewer/s with good eye contact and SMILE
4. Turn up ill prepared and without researching the company before the interview
5. Turn up late or not at all!
6. Mumble – practice speaking clearly
7. Dress inappropriately – dress to impress always
8. Act shy and say “I’m not used to Interviews”. Or  “I am nervous”.
9. Respond with a “NO” ….  and say nothing else… always commence and couch responses positively
10. Behave disinterested and bored
11. Claim you want the job because of the easy hours and its close proximity to your home address!
12. Have NO questions prepared to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview
13. Have a resume filled with fake assertions- present with an authentic resume!

Hope this helps you in your next interview!

Ivana Agapiou career advisor and resume writer

The post JOB INTERVIEW, WHAT NOT TO SAY! appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Speak no evil and then no one will think poorly of you.

Ever walked away from a job interview and had a nasty flash back. You rewind it all your head, and you hear your responses to the questions and you cringe.”OMG you say, I wish I hadn’t have said that!”

Too late now as the interviewers not only heard what you said, they have already made judgements and decisions about you that will affect your future.  What are the dangerous questions I hear you ask? here are a few questions that are TRAPS meant to catch you off guard and some are just ordinary questions that appear to be inane… but can lead you down the wrong path.

1. Tell me about your last employer.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
3. What type of management style do you work best with?
4. What are your weaknesses?
5. Describe your last place of employment
6. Have you ever had a performance review and what did you learn about yourself from the process?

What are the right responses? Here are a few bits of  wise advice 

1. Explain how your last employer was helpful in assisting you to gain valuable experience/skills and knowledge
2. You left you last job on good terms ALWAYS
3. You can work with all types of management styles and you may prefer X
4. Talk about what you think may be a weakness and how you recognize how you need to improve
5. Always talk in positive terms about ANY past jobs
6. Describe how feedback helps you to develop and grow

In summary, remain up-beat and positive.

NEVER EVER enter into negative criticism – NEVER EVER say bad things, or gossip about your last employer or workplace. Need help and coaching for that important job interview? contact our career advisor and resume writer on 0404056278

Ivana Agapiou Resume writer and career adviser

The post What potential employers don’t want to hear at the job interview appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Every day we meet with candidates who have not grasped the basic fundamentals of a simple resume.  This is very easy to do as many of us have difficulty writing about ourselves. There is no right or wrong way to write a resume, there are just some golden rules.

There are two considerations before you commence composing on any resume

 1) what is the purpose of you  resume ?

2) who  is the audience / reader?

OK,  let’s examine these two considerations first

1) What is the purpose of a resume?

In our opinion, a good resume is one that gets you to an interview… pure and simple! Therefore the purpose is to influence, persuade and attract the reader’s attention! It should make them want to interview you and spend time getting to know you better.  The resume must be inviting and contain the key elements that pertain to the listed, advertised job. This is the one chance to entice the employer to “buy” you, and not someone else, so your resume needs to be hitting the spot in regards to key criteria and relevant skills. Employers (the readers) can not perform “leaps of faith” and draw the right conclusions unless you make it quite clear that your skills, experience & qualifications match the job that they need filled!

2) Who is the audience /who will read this document?

Research shows that most employers take 6-8 seconds to read a resume.  WOW! that is not much time eh? Especially consider how long the average person spends writing a resume!  So you must pack the punch and hit the target for that job in that short time!

Here are a two most important  hints

1) Phone the employer before sending in an application. Have questions prepared in regards to the job. One of the best questions is “In this role, what does 80% of the day look like?”

2) Write the resume with the job advert in mind. What are they really looking for? Highlight the skills and experiences that you feel will translate easily to the role. Examine the information you have gathered on the role and the content of your resume and see if you can match them both to this job.  If you can’t then just maybe the reader will have difficulty seeing the alignment also. If the advert calls for “experience” in a certain field and you don’t have that experience, what can you write in a positive way that explains how you gained similar experience elsewhere? It’s called transferable skills… but you will have to help them “see” the easy transition,,Whatever you do, DO NOT write “I DON’T have the experience required!”

If you need help devising a winning resume, Eather Recruitment offer a great service https://www.eatherrecruitment.com.au/jobseekers/resume-writing-and-reviews/

or contact Ivana on 0404056278 for a chat about how we can help you! Ivana Agapiou Resume writer and career advisor

The post Resumes mean a lot! Is yours good enough? what is enough? appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

How Job descriptions help forge a great resume

Ever secured a job only to find that the advertised position and the actual job were different? Not knowing what is expected  can make or break a job interview.

Research the job you’re applying for well in advance, not only will it open your eyes to what’s involved and what may be expected, it will assist you with your application.

New Recruits need to have strong guidelines and know what is expected of them.

Therefore a clear job description is critical for any position. A well written job description helps a business and staff in numerous ways because it articulates the following

• The skills and competencies that are required to perform the role
• where the job fits within the overall company (and where they “fit in”)
• the basis for the employment contract, whether temporary, permanent or casual
• points out the areas for evaluation and therefore acts as a valuable performance management tool.

Here are 5 simple steps to building a job description …..

1.  A Job title

The fundamental element of a job description is the job title. It should have the following qualities:

• accurately reflects the nature of the job and the duties being performed
• describes ranking order with other jobs in the company
• doesn’t exaggerate the importance of the role
•  is free of gender or age implications
• generic enough that it can be compared to similar jobs within the industry and for the purposes of equity in pay and conditions
• is simple and self-explanatory for use in any future recruitment exercises

2. Duties

The job description should contain a clear list of the duties and responsibilities associated with the role, along with the amount of time expected to be dedicated to each task. This should be represented as a percentage (i.e. filing 20%, data entry 40%  20% reception duties).

Descriptions of duties should be no more than two or three sentences in length and should be outcome-based, that is contain an action, an object and a purpose (eg ‘clean main office by 9am prior to busy period, and according to set hygiene guidelines and standards”).

The list of duties and responsibilities will vary in length, but generally, should be as brief as possible, otherwise the it becomes an operational manual rather than a job description. ( Please also consider devising a separate operational manual!)

3. Skills and competencies

Skills and competencies should be listed separately from each other, as they are two quite separate things. Skills are activities the candidate can perform based on what they have learnt, or from qualifications. Competencies are the traits or attributes you expect the candidate to display in the role.

An example of a skill is the ability to deliver effective presentations. It’s a skill that can be learnt through study and practice. An example of a competency, on the other hand, is strong communication, which is an innate characteristic displayed by a person.

The modern trend towards competency-based job descriptions means extra weight is given to behavioural competencies such as leadership, teamwork, flexibility, communication and initiative.

4. Relationships

It is important to include reporting lines and working relationships in your job description. Reporting lines clarify the responsibilities of the position by showing who the candidate reports to and who reports to them. This is important, not only in relation to compliance issues, but also to give the candidate an insight into the hierarchical structure of the organisation and how their position fits into it.

Working relationships are the people and departments the position requires the candidate to work closely with. It is a good idea to give an indication of the size of such departments and the extent of interaction.

An organisational chart is a good way to represent relationships in a job description, with vertical lines between boxes demonstrating reporting lines and horizontal lines showing working relationships.

5. Salary

Rather than assigning a particular salary to the position, work out a salary range to include in the job description that is competitive with similar positions in other organisations and allows for variations in education and experience. Obviously, this would need to be updated from time to time, in line with changing pay scales.

In summary

A good job description is much more than a laundry list of tasks and responsibilities. If well written, it gives the new recruit a sense of the priorities involved. It’s not only  a clear picture of the position , but also a useful tool for measuring performance and a vital reference in the event of disputes or disciplinary issues.

So, the more accurate you can make a job description, the more useful it will become in the future!

Ivana Agapiou career advise and resume writer

The post Are job descriptions really necessary…??? OMG… Yes they are! appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

A relevant resume is still required, but you also need to get a grip and smooth your way around responses to Criteria or Capability statements.

As well as a great resume, you need to understand how to provide relevant responses,  you have to make your job application look & read like the process was effortless! Just like these pelicans in the pic, you can’t see the mad peddling under the water, all you see is smooth operation and a “glide”! we know that JOB applications & Resumes that require you to respond to Key Selection Criteria can be – NO, ARE  a very time-consuming task that requires great skill. 

 Responding to key criteria

In this article, I provide a sample criteria that comes up often for  many roles, and that is,

“High-level written and verbal communication skills including well-developed presentation skills.”

Good communication is a core competencies for all jobs.. regardless of the level! Notice that this statement also asks for 3 skill-sets – written/verbal and presentation to an audience. You can try to “bundle” all three,  or you can divide it up, either way, I strong suggest a very basic formula to follow:-   S.A.R  – Situation/ action / response

Summarise what you understand is effective communication first, then provide a great examples of when you used your communication skills effectively ….

Here is an example scenario –  when you were Managing Director’s PA and had to place a convincing argument to upgrade communication systems/phones which included Data base acquisition.

Situation – MD not sure about necessary change – no systems in place and antiquated phone and IT

Action – What did you actually “do” in this instance…  acted – took initiative to consult / listen/ research data… report. .cost analysis  – demonstrate benefits to Manager

Result – implementation of new process and procedures along with new IT supporting the changes – cost saving; time efficiencies; streamlined systems

The same formula applies to  Presentation skills

Explain how it is all about the audience! Who are they? What are the objectives of the presentation? To persuade? To inform?

Situation – you recently presented a mini – education assessing to Business Women’s network meeting

Action – had to prepare and present on Eather Recruitment – why use a recruiter?

Result – audience informed of services and persuaded to consider when next recruiting – connecting with a larger audience and personalizing the contact. Three leads were made and followed through with successful sales

Ivana Agapiou resume writer and career advisor

The post Job criteria-Capability statements, How to respond… and get the Job Interview! appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

 Pitcher Perfect and designed for the job.

This is a photo of a “Pitcher plant” it is designed to capture insects and it performs this role to perfection. Wouldn’t it be great if we all performed the job you were born to do!

Imagine for a moment what it would be like to do exactly what you love, to do what you are really, really good at, imagine the work being so in tune with who you are, it almost seems a piece of cake! You are invigorated each day, keen to get started!

Now, imagine (or maybe you already know) what it’s like to drag yourself out of bed each morning, dreading the day ahead, because you are about to go into a job that depletes the life and energy right out of you.

Huge difference, isn’t it? Isn’t really possible to do something that you love and be able to create a business or career out of it? Yes it is!

Firstly let’s examine some of the signs and symptoms of someone who is undergoing a critical time. How many of the items below do you relate to?

1. You’re are at a fork in the road in your life/career and unsure of which direction to go
2. You’re miserable in your current job/ career and seeking change
3. You’re afraid to change jobs because the current one offers you security and perhaps a good income, but you want “out”
4. You often think that there must be more to life and pine for a change
5. Your ‘successful’ career lacks the meaning or fulfillment you want
6. You commenced a company doing something you loved, but find that you are stressed and losing enthusiasm
7. You want to change direction but have no training/education to be able to  change industries or careers
8. You have just lost your job, and looking for guidance
9. You feel obligated to a career choice you made in your late teens or early      twenties
10. When you are at work, it is difficult to remain motivated and caring

If you ticked more than 4 out of 10. You do need help with deciding your future!

There are some helpful people that can assist you to transition to the work you love. Commence with reading “What colour is my parachute” as a starter, then seek our professionals who are qualified in helping you work through the crisis.

My motto is “if we all do the jobs we were born to do, the world would be a much happier place!”

Ivana Agapiou #resumes #resumewriter @figjamresumes.com.au

Ivana Agapiou resume writer and career advisor

The post Perform the job you were born to do! appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

The Job interview, the NO NO’s

Many employers comment that they interview candidates who had NO idea how to present for an interview.

Recruiters comment that some candidates think that if they are personally happy with their image in the mirror (well, we hope that they even looked in the mirror prior to leaving the house) that this is all that is needed. Often recruiters complain that candidates don’t spend any time evaluating the type of workplace or the workplace culture prior to applying for the role, let alone dressing appropriately for the part. Some follow the latest fashion fad and think that trendy means professional!

Remember that the interviewers don’t know you, and that in the first 10 seconds, they will make judgments (it’s only human) rightly or wrongly, based on what you look like “to them”. They will draw inferences about your personality, your attitudes, your education – the list goes on. Most importantly, they will make assumptions on whether you will fit in within their organisation. It is imperative that at this crucial time, you make the best first impression! Leave no doubt or questions as to your suitability for the job.

This article will focus on BASIC tips for looking great at interview and of course, some of these points may not be relevant to you – let’s cover the ladies first, although some of the pointers below could be relevant for males and transgenders also.

Fingernails

Please refrain from attending an interview with loud, bold or even, black painted nails. The trend for very long or very noticeable,  square Talons may make the interviewers think that you are unable to perform the job.They may deduce that you may be ineffective use of your fingers, especially if fast and accurate typing is required, or they may think that you spend too much time on your nails.

Eyelashes

Nothing wrong with long ones – but the “sweep the floor” fakes are an absolute NO NO

Make-up

Please wear a little make-up – never a lot! Light touch of lipstick is a must. This shows you care about your appearance.

Cleavage

Simply, Don’t have any, Just don’t.

Hem length

No one wants to see your underwear! If when you bend over, you have to hold down your hem to cover up, then its too short. If your outfit does not pass the bend over test, choose another more conservative outfit.

Stilettos

These are great for clubbing, but not to wear in a professional office. Workplace Health and Safety may dictate that a court shoe, low heal and covered toe shoe is much more appropriate. Employers want to deduce that you are sensible.

Hair

OMG  simply, make sure your hair is recently washed, dried and combed. A simple, classic style and not a wild, punk look (unless you are applying for work in a creative industry). Hair colour needs to be as mainstream and subdued as possible. Plenty of opportunity later, once you have the job, to express your creativity.

Personal Hygiene

Be cognizant of your hygiene, there is nothing more disconcerting or distracting that a candidate who has body odour or foul breath. Wear a good deodorant and antiperspirant. The same applies to good smells, you don’t want to overpower the interviewers. Apply a small amount of perfume or after-shave.  Please DON’T marinate in the stuff.

Cleanliness

Your outfit must not be grubby, have stains or look frayed and worn to threads. If it needs ironing, make sure you do this the night before the interview, never on same day, or an hour before,  just in case something goes wrong.  I always choose a crinkle-free non-iron outfit! There are loads available.

Jewelry

Less is best. Be subtle in your choice here, nothing dangling or noise producing. Remove multiple piercings.  Again, you don’t want to distract the interviewers so much that they focus on the other things besides your great responses.

Care and attention to detail

Here’s a quick summary. Iron your outfit the night before. Make sure the final overall appearance is shmick.  Your clothes should be a good fit, and not too tight and not too loose. Ask a friend to provide feedback. By now you should have researched the company and have a basic idea of the type of uniform or clothes that are worn by staff? NO? Why not?

Princess Dianna knew how to charm and engage an audience, she would always choose her clothing carefully, taking particular note of colours,  and cultures that would help people believe she empathised and understood them well.

Lastly, if you can demonstrate that you have paid careful attention to your appearance, it will place you in higher esteem at the interview and reduce self-sabotage.  It also allows them to assess YOU and lessen any negative judgements that may cloud their perception of you.

Ivana Agapiou –  Eather Recruitment career adviser – 0404056278

The post The JOB interview, the No No’s appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

There’s Interviewers and then there’s “those” Interviewers

Interviews should flow easily and painlessly. 

The candidates should leave feeling like they were listened to and feeling positive about the experience.

Practice your interviewing skills, and you will improve your selection capabilities and find the best person for the job. 

Everyone agrees a business is as good as it’s employees. So if hiring the right people is so important… why are most interviewers satisfied with being ordinary? Maybe employers assume the burden of proof and awesomeness is the responsibility of the candidates? – They think it’s their job to impress! Yes this is a bit true, however it’s very short-sighted.

To select the best employees you possibly can, you must be the best interviewer you can possibly be!

Here are some key qualities of thoughtful and skilled interviewers:

Good Interviewers understand the company’s real needs.

While qualifications and experience are important, never forget you’re not hiring a position, you’re hiring a result. So if you are hiring a Sales Consultant, you need someone who will sell. You need someone who can produce on time.

Identify your real business need… determine what successfully meeting that need looks like, because that defines the skills, experience and abilities you’re looking for… think about cultural fit… and tailor the interview (and everything else in your hiring process) to finding the perfect person to solve your critical business need.

Otherwise you’re just wasting everyone’s time and losing valuable $$$$

They ensure candidates can come prepared.

All candidates should know exactly what to expect: When, where, who will be conducting the interview(s)… they should know everything. Great interviewers ensure candidates don’t have to deal with surprises, tricks, or uncertainty.

For example, take the surprise group interview. A group interview can be intimidating for the candidate, especially when it’s unexpected. If the position requires working predominately within a team group interviews can provide a feel for the candidate’s suitability. In that case, tell candidates ahead of time so they can prepare. Otherwise hold individual sessions.

Make the initial interaction an awesome experience – WOM will travel and your company will obtain a get image on how it treats its candidates

Skilled Interviewers do more research on prospective employees than the candidate does on their company.

Every interview guide tells candidates it’s important to research the company. So isn’t it just as important for the interviewer to research the candidate?

Of course, especially since you can’t ask intelligent questions and foster a compelling conversation unless you really know the candidate.

The resume is the first place to start.  Check  not just on jobs and qualifications, but also on what the resume doesn’t say! Are there any Black holes? Question marks?

For example, why did they change roles?  What do changes in responsibilities and duties indicate about their performance?

PLEASE do a quick survey of their social media… interests? Some things may indicate fit in your company’s culture. What does her FB say about her broader goals and professional interests?

The interview is a conversation, not an interrogation.

The best interviews are a great conversation, not a court case. But you can’t have a great conversation with someone you hardly know.  The more you know about the candidate ahead of time, the more you can ask questions that give the candidate room for introspection and self-analysis.

They bring out the best – shy or nervous candidates feel comfortable.

Beware of the confident, charming interviewee! They just may be professional interviewees! Many candidates on the other hand, are shy or nervous and don’t make a great first impression. But an awkward interview doesn’t mean a candidate can’t excel at the job: While some positions do require the ability to instantly establish warm  rapport (like sales), in many others a lack of conversational skills in no way signals a lack of expertise.

It’s easy to help a nervous candidate relax – especially if you’ve done your research. Compliment on their achievements. Ask a question about an outside interest. Take a few minutes to help them gain confidence and relax.

Seasoned Interviewers often go off script.

An interviewer should follow a plan and ask a reasonably specific set of questions, but the best questions are almost always follow-up questions. Follow-up questions take you past the canned responses and into the details, both positive and negative.

When something sparks your interest, talk about it. Ask questions. Who knows where the conversation will go.  Not only will you get past the standard responses, you’ll also learn details—positive and negative—the candidate never planned or would have thought to share. The real superstars show up in the details, and it’s a skilled interviewer’s job to get those details.

And occasionally you’ll find a candidate who may not be right for this one… but might be perfect for a different opening.

Listen 90%  – Talk 10%.

Interviews often turn into monologues delivered, unfortunately, by the interviewer.

Most candidates won’t interrupt or try to restore balance to the interview; after all, they want you to like them. Unfortunately that means your hiring decision is largely based on whether the candidate was a good listener.

They provide clear information and then closure to every candidate.

Failing to follow up is rude and unprofessional. Think about it: Candidates paid your business a massive compliment by wanting to work with you. (Why is that a massive compliment? They’re willing to spend more time with you than they do with their family.)

Plus, when you don’t provide closure, candidates won’t complain to you… but they will complain about you.

Describe next steps, follow through on those steps, contact candidates when the process for some reason gets delayed, and eventually provide closure to every candidate – period.

Want more information on being the Best Interviewer Ever  – check out Jeff Haden See all Jeff’s posts

The post There’s Interviewers and then there’s “those” Interviewers appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

BEST advice on Interview questions

Your resume got you to an interview!!! YAH congratulations… now Here are some guidelines for responding to some potentially “tricky” interview questions  ..You may have some idea of what might be asked of you at interview, but many of us don’t have a clue how to respond (especially if we are also a bit nervous!)

So, check out the list of frequently asked questions and click on link to discover how you might respond.

1. What is your greatest strength? – Best Answers
2. What is your greatest weakness? – Best Answers
3. How do you handle stress and pressure? – Best Answers
4. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. – Best Answers
5. How do you evaluate success? – Best Answers
6. Why are you leaving or have left your job? – Best Answers
7. Why do you want this job? – Best Answers
8. Why should we hire you? – Best Answers
9. What are your goals for the future? – Best Answers
10. Tell me about yourself. – Best Answers

More Interview Questions

Job Interview Questions and Answers
Common job interview questions, plus sample answers you can use to practice for a job interview.

Want more information – click below

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm

The post Cheat Sheet – Top 10 Interview Questions & Responses appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Responding to interview questions is like treading water. Be a smooth operator

The interviewers must never know that underneath the water, you are paddling fast and furiously. All they see is your smooth response.

Your resume got you to the interview and you are being asked some very common questions. GET PREPARED!

Google search indicates that the following are the most frequently-asked interview questions. This does not mean that they are the best, just oldies and goodies.

How would you,  or have you already, responded to any of the following?

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What is your greatest strength?
3. What is your weakness?
4. How do you handle stress and pressure?
5. Describe a challenging work situation or project and how you overcame it.
6. How do you evaluate success?
7. Why are you leaving or have left your job?
8. Why do you want this job?
9. Why should we hire you?
10. What are your goals for the future?

And the FINAL deal breaker, number 11. Do you have any questions? (if you don’t have any,  it could mean the end to this job interview !)

Watch for Monday’s post to see what responses would be recommended and compare with yours! NEED HELP WRITING a great resume? 

Talk with Ivana Agapiou for a consultation – 0404056278

The post 11 Most popular Job Interview Questions. appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Is your resume an individually tailored document that sells your skills in the right light?

The simple answer is actually a question, “Is your resume getting you that interview?” Otherwise,  it’s just heading to the sunset with all the others.

Firstly, if your resume is securing you that interview, then you have a good resume, however, if it does not get you in front of a potential employer, it’s doing you NO favours!

Resumes should read like sales documents, they should “sell” your unique skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications. Most importantly, it should make you a highly marketable commodity!

Many candidates place a lot of effort into resume writing and often don’t know how to edit, delete or add. However, it’s a mandatory requirement.

Following are  some simple rules

1) Always proof read thoroughly, and have someone else read it also.

2) Check for spelling errors, grammatical errors and general professional layout.

3) print a copy and see how it looks… often the print version can appear quite different that the screen copy!

3) only include content that is relevant to the job you are applying for – yes, this means more work, and yes, it means adapting your resume to each role and yes, it’s worth it

Finally,  a resume is very personal and many candidates find it challenging to “blow their own Trumpet” so if you need an objective opinion and  help with resume writing, you need an expert with years of recruitment experience,

Call us on 0265838222  or 0404056278 and inquire about our Talent Review Services, which include professional resume writing

Finally, for more information, you could also visit www.figjamresumes.com.au

Ivana Agapiou – Resume writer
Eather Recruitment

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