Exciting! New! ideal role for Graduate Software engineer who is keen to grow their knowledge whilst applying their skills and experience!

Our client is developing an exciting new graphical interface for camera systems and they seek a graduate software engineer to join their robust, dynamic and creative team! If you are keen on a role that will extend your knowledge and experience; a role that places you at the cutting edge of software development within Ai systems &  GIS; a role that offers training, coaching and on-going mentoring…. whilst living in the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW…look no further!

to be successful in the role you will need:

• Engineering/computer Science or similar degree
• Advanced C, C++ and C# ; Visual studio dot net, programming skills
• Further knowledge of various software applications & programming applications
• Research skills and an ability to encompass new approaches and techniques
• lateral thinker who will grow and develop and accept guidance
• excellent communication  and interpersonal skills
• to be a great team member who can go the extra mile!

Desirable – some experience with DSP and/or micro-processor algorithm design and implementation along with experience in systems and control.

This role is based in Port Macquarie NSW  and an immediate start is on offer, if  you are seeking an entry to a new, creative  world, filled with opportunities?  Apply now!

The post Software Engineer – Port Macquarie based (Position Closed) appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Are you accustomed to, and enjoy a frenetic pace? Can you juggle several tasks at once? In this role, you will support 2 specialists with administration; medical clinics; and patient services. The role is casual, working 6 day fortnights, job share in a high volume and extremely busy practice

to be successful in this role you will need:-

• initiative and common sense
• a highly personable nature and someone who knows how to priortitise
• be a team player & a great communicator
• medical background preferred
• experienced  with Dictaphone and high data entry speed along with accuracy
• excellent telephone manner
• multi-tasker with a strong focus on task completion
• demonstrated ability to work under extreme pressure, remaining calm at all times
• accustomed to variety of Data Base systems (Genie is a distinct advantage)
• current driver’s licence
• availability to travel to Kempsey once a fortnight

interested in a great job, within a great practice? … send resume NOW

The post Experienced Medical Secretary, 3 days per week (Position Closed) appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Help a young leader perform the job they were born to do!

You are fortunate to have available to you and your business, a premier training program for developing  staff aged between 18-25 years of age. This long established leadership and communication program is a Rotary initiative that has been imitated and adopted by many corporations throughout the world.  It’s that good!

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a prestigious program that accelerates maturity, motivation and therefore adds value to your business. The course in not an extrinsic motivational exercise that only works for a short time, it’s a structured and analytical series of experiences that force the participants to make major and minor intrinsic improvements in their personal lives and in their careers.  In other words, it is long -lasting! Most importantly, the increase in emotional intelligence and general confidence will be as asset to your business!

Do you have any employees who you believe would appreciate this rare opportunity? Brochures and application forms/files can be downloaded from RYLA \ District 9650

David Mayne

Chair RYLA Committee -2014

0434 860 680

The 7 day residential program is only $925, it will be held at Yarrahappini, from Saturday 28th March.

We are looking forward you your call and would be delighted to visit your business to further discuss the program and it’s benefits.

Kind regards

Ivana Agapiou – Rotary District Youth Director 2013-2014

The post Young Leaders for your workplace & your community appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

A resume is a living, breathing document! It should NEVER remain static, if it does, it will loose its relevance and perhaps become redundant.  Workplaces and work requirements are changing rapidly and it’s important for job seekers to get a professionally written and rewritten resume completed for their job search.  What does this mean for the applicant  who is looking for a job now?  Today’s job seeker must have a well-written resume; the resume that is rich in content,  concise and with wording that showcases career achievements, capabilities  and accomplishments as it pertains to the job that they are applying for!    The resume must demonstrate diversity in skills and capabilities based on technical skills, and where possible, volunteerism, languages, publications, and awards and recognition.

The job seeker should be careful when hiring a resume writer.  They can be sucked into ridiculously expensive resume writing services with very little return on their career search investment.  Some resume services charge between $1-2,000K and the result is essentially ‘a pretty resume’ that on appearance looks great, with borders, fancy text, and filler words, but very little Return on Investment, because it’s loaded with subjective verbs versus objective descriptors.  Some claim that they can “re-brand” the applicant.  This is often marketing bunk! Re-branding sounds a bit too fake for me!

There are resume certification services that claim their resume writers are the best qualified  – but those certifications are not necessarily important.  And, you don’t necessarily need to meet face-to-face with those resume writers – that just makes you spend time and money that is not really necessary.

You do want to use a resume writer with hundreds, if not thousands of resumes under their belt and loads of positive reviews and references.  You do want to see samples of those resumes when you are shopping around.  A professional resume writer will also explain the process to you,  for what they will do with your resume.  They will explain the process, the steps, and work interactively to reword and design the best-practices of the resume rewrite formatting.  Good resumes service companies will offer smaller and affordable packages, so even if the job seeker is unemployed, they can afford the services (this means the resume writer is empathetic to the job seeker’s financial circumstances).  You want to get a ‘good feeling’ from the resume re-writer’s personality, where you hear their empathy and just know they are on your side and will work hard to really make your resume shine to recruiters.

EDUCATE YOURSELF ON RESUMES AND RECRUITING PRACTICES:

Statement claim 1:                       

You need to rewrite the resume for every job you apply for …

Response 1:              

Not necessarily so,  if you write a ‘capability’ resume, for all your skills, experience, strengths, and education, that one resume only needs to slight adjustments for each job application.

Statement claim 2:           

Resumes should only be 2 pages long

Response 2:              

Resumes can be longer than 2 pages. Agencies and employers are looking for the most qualified candidate in experience, which means you may need to ‘load’ that resume with far more content to really compete with the dozens or even hundreds of other competitors for those  jobs.

Resumes for private sector companies can be one page (if new to job market and fresh graduate) and

to up top four pages (if experienced careerist).

In the main, Resumes used to be submitted in paper form.  Loads of filing cabinets took up lots of valuable office space.  Now,  most resumes are required to be uploaded  and digitally stored.  And, now the recruiters can search that database of resumes in the entire database or only within the job requisition pool of applicants using  Search criteria for the more vital key words in a resume and find the more qualified candidates in a few key strokes.  They don’t care how long the resume is (now) because they let the search engine do the identification of the more qualified candidates and only need to glance over the resumes now for  key words and phrases. In summary, it might just be a machine that decides if you are shortlisted to an interview!

TAKE ACTION – be proactive

Commence  the process of updating and obtaining a rewrite of your resume TODAY with the best resume writer in the marketplace so you, as the job seeker, can be ready to actively (or passively) search for that next exciting career job!

Ivana Agapiou resume writer

The post Resumes need attention and updating appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Many jobs are obtained via the initial Resume & application followed by an Interview… we are often asked “What makes a great resume? ” A great resume is one that gets you to that interview! The rest is up to YOU!

Resumes are the KEY!

Each week we receive hundreds of resumes. Many of which are from great candidates however, due to simple, avoidable errors do not make it to the shortlist, let alone to meet the employer for an interview!

It is frustrating for both the candidate and the employer. The employer may miss out on a great employee and the candidate continues to wonder why they are not making it to interview

Your resume is your most important tool when applying for a job. It doesn’t matter how qualified you are, or how much experience you have – if your resume is poorly presented or badly written, you’re going to have trouble getting the job you want – or even an interview.

Let’s explore….

The Purpose of a Resume

Your resume is a marketing tool. It is a SALES flier – your very own and individual sales brochure

a Good resume needs to demonstrate:

• That you are employable
• How you meet the job and the organisation’s requirements
• That you have the right qualifications and education for the advertised position
• That you have the right experience and skills
• That you have the right level of professionalism for the job

 How Long Should My Resume Be?

One or two pages are best, (one page per 10 years of experience)  but three pages are OK …..if you’ve got a lot of study and work behind you… REMEMBER the research – employers spend an average of 6 seconds reading a resume! I know this is bad… but it’s reality!

Make sure you don’t pad out your resume. If your resume is only one page, as long as it’s well-presented it might get better results than a two-page resume full of unnecessary information.

How Should I Order My Resume?

Generally it’s always good to present the information on your resume in chronological order: (today back..) but it should have the following..

1. Contact details
2. About me… statement ( or objective – as long as it suits the role you are applying for!)
3. List of key skills  and List of technical/software skills
4. Personal attributes/career overview
5. Educational qualifications
6. Employment history/volunteering/work placements
7. 2 or three hobbies or interests (optional)
8. Minimum of 2 Referees

Not everything in this list must appear on your resume every time, and the order can change from application to application. The most important thing is to get the most useful information across first. For example, if your education history is not specifically related to the job, put it toward the end of your resume, behind the information that is related to the job.

 Do I Need to Change/ Adapt My Resume for Each Application?

In one word – YES!! – You need to tailor your resume to every job application so that it responds to the specific requirements of the job you’re applying for.

You might not need to change much, but you do need to make sure your opening statement, your key skills and your personal attributes all respond to the needs of the role, based on the job ad (if there was one) and the research you’ve done into the job. Yes! research prior to applying!

Always tailor your resume to show how your work experience specifically meets the needs of the job you’re applying for.

How to Tailor Your Resume

Ways that you can tailor your resume include:

• Using your opening “about me” statement to link your experience and education to the organisation and the requirements of the job
• Listing your most relevant key skills first
• Including examples of achievements that meet advertised requirements of the job
• Including specifically relevant key words and phrases throughout your resume

 What Your Resume Should Include

There are a number of things that every resume should have on it. Check out the resume templates – Google this! to get an idea of what great resumes could look like.

 Contact Details

Make sure you include your name, email address and a contact phone number on your resume. You don’t have to include your home address, although there might be some situations when doing so would be a good idea.  You can place your contact details in a footer of your resume, but if you do, you must make sure they’re also in the main body of the document.

Opening Statement – Elevator or “About Me”

An opening statement is a summary of who you are, where you’ve studied and/or worked, and what you bring to the job.

Key Skills & Strengths

Your resume should include a list of between 10 and 15 skills that link your experience to the job you’re applying for.

If the job you’re applying for was advertised, either the ad or the position description may provide a list of skills and experiences that are essential for doing the job. It may also provide a list of “desirable” skills and experience. When putting together this list, think of things you’ve done or learned to do as part of:

• Jobs you’ve had
• Your studies
• Any work placements you’ve done
• Any volunteering you’ve done

 Technical/Software Skills

This is a short list of the names of software or technology you know how to use. Examples might include:

• Microsoft Suite or spreadsheet software
• Programming languages
• Tools (e.g., cash registers, EFTPOS)

Personal Attributes

If you haven’t got much work experience, a list of personal attributes can be another way to demonstrate that you’re the right person for the job.

Educational History

Your Educational History only needs to show your highest level of education. You don’t need to include your results, unless showing them proves how well you’re suited to the job.

If you can, you should also include a few bullet points listing your academic achievements (e.g., school or class captain, awards you’ve won, or groups you’ve been part of).

Employment History

When providing your employment history, start with the your most recent job and go backwards from there. Give the position title and the dates you worked there.

If you haven’t had a job before, you can use other things to demonstrate your experience, including:

• Work experience whilst at school
• Work placements or internships that you’ve done through university or TAFE
• Any Volunteer work  past and current

For each job provide a list of the things that you achieved while in that job, and the significant contributions you made to the organisation. Make sure that these achievements and contributions match the key skills and strengths listed earlier on your resume.

Referees

Your resume should list two people who can positively recommend you as an employee. Ideally your references will be people that you have worked with before. Provide their name, their position title, and a way that they can be contacted. WARNING – only select referees whom you know will be positive about you and ones that you have gained permission to have on your resume!

Testimonials

A testimonial is another good way to prove that your skill and experience is what the employer is looking for.

You can include any testimonials you get as part of your educational history or your employment/volunteering/work placement history.

Usually it’s enough to include one or two testimonials in your resume. Any more than two is probably too many.

Keywords

A lot of recruitment agencies use software that scans applications for key words and phrases. Applications that don’t use the right keywords tend to be automatically rejected.

Key words and phrases that this software often looks for,  can include the names of:

• Skills
• Jobs
• Activities
• Qualifications
• Software
• Tools

To make sure your resume has the right key words and phrases, check out the job ad and make a list of the words and phrases it uses. If you don’t have a written job ad to refer to, you can use a job search engine to find other ads for similar jobs and see what kind of keywords those ads use.

Once you have a list to work from, start adding those words and phrases to your resume. Good places to add keywords include:

• Your opening statement
• Your list of key skills
• Your educational history
• Your employment history

 What NOT to Put On Your Resume

Here are a few things not to include on your resume. Note that there may be circumstances when including some of the following information shows that you’re a good fit for the job. If that’s the case, including that information would be a good idea.

 Personal Information

You don’t have to provide any personal information on your resume. There’s no benefit to be gained from providing information that could be used to generalise about you as a potential employee.

Your resume doesn’t have to include:

• Your birth date
• Your gender
•  Your address
•  Any ailments or disabilities
•  Your health status

A possible exception to this might be when providing this information would give your application an advantage (e.g., if the employer is looking for someone young, or a female applicant). In these situations, consider including such information if you think it would strengthen your application.

Typos or Factual Errors

Submitting a resume or cover letter with spelling mistakes and typos will guarantee you don’t get an interview. You should spell check your resume before you send it, but you should also get someone else to read it as well and check for mistakes you might have missed.

Double-check everything that you include in your resume. If you mention the company’s name, make sure you get it right. If you mention the name of places you’ve worked before, make sure you get that right. Mistakes on resumes are worse than typos.  You should also consider getting your resume looked at by someone professional.

 Images and Graphics

Jury is out, many feel that you should not include images or photos on your resume. Not only are images disliked by recruiters and HR professionals, they can also create problems with recruitment software (print-outs etc) an exception to this guideline of not having a selfie is www.quickstaff.com.au  where hospitality, tourism & retail employers are on-line seeking staff in a hurry!

 Fancy Formatting

Stick to easy-to-read fonts and formats. KEEP IT SIMPLE! This makes it easier for recruiters to review your resume. It also means any recruitment software that reviews your resume can easily read the information. DON’T HAVE IT ALL IN CAPITAL LETTERS EITHER! The reader/s may think you are shouting at them!

Good fonts to use include:

• Verdana /Arial/ Century gothic/ Calibri

PDF Versions of Your Resume

Some recruitment software can’t read PDF files –  Unless a job ad specifically says to provide your resume in PDF format –  you should always only submit your resume in word format (.doc or .docx).

Reviewing Your Resume

Having someone else review your resume is extremely important. Make sure you use someone who will actually tell you if they think something isn’t right. People you could ask include:

• Co-workers
• Former employers
• Teachers
• Career guidance counselors

…..still not sure what to do? There are thousands of articles and helpful sites on how to avoid the major mistakes in your resume

check this one out!Ivana Agapiou resume writer and career advisor

The Resume is your passport to a brighter future

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140917045901-24454816-the-5-biggest-mistakes-i-see-on-resumes-and-how-to-correct-them?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0

The post Resumes that get you to a job interview…… 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.

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.

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.

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.

Looking for work is just like fishing.

You have to have the right bait, the right target employers and the right timing.

Finding a job in Regional NSW is a little more challenging that the Metro areas, however, there are tried and true methods that work in any job market.

Let’s explore the fishing analogy

The Right Bait

I believe your resume is the “Bait” that catches the attention of the reader (or not!). What results have you got from your resume? Have you sent heaps out with little result? Did your resume “bait” the reader enough to invite you to an interview? If not, change your bait! Each time you fish for work, make sure your bait is adapted to the role  or the “catch”. Sending the same resume out for various jobs, is NOT helping you bait the right catch!

The Right Employer

A good fisherman reads the weather reports, checks for the best areas for particular catches. Looking for work is no different. Research the companies you are keen on; (don’t be afraid to make a phone call and ask questions!) Examine the future of this industry – is it viable? if you got work ( or fished here) is it fertile enough to sustain you in the future; check that you have the right qualifications; skills and experience; Written job applications need to be tailored to the job advertisement.

The Right Time

Seeking a career change? or looking for a new job in the same industry? Just like fishing for the same breed of fish means working out what that particular fish likes best. What would be the best bait and what times are best to catch them? Employers and industries often have “down times” or seasonality too! If you are seeking a complete career change – what have you learnt from previous experiences and jobs that would be relevant in your new path? This is known as “transferable skills”. Fishing in new zones, requires the Angler to utilize what they have already learnt and be prepared to fail sometimes. List all your capabilities, skills and make sure that this is what your new employer is looking for. As a recruiter, I rarely get a call from applicants asking questions on an advertised role, if I do receive a call, many just rave about themselves, without asking ONE question on the role! This is not to right time to rave… that is for the formal application. First and foremost, find out all you can…

Ivana Agapiou resume writer

The post Looking for work? are you searching for jobs in all the right places? appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Don’t ignore the Capability statements, levels and frameworks.

Tread slowly and carefully, as responding to these can be a minefield.

Capability (or ability) frameworks describe the skills and behaviors that employers want their people to demonstrate if they are doing high quality work. These frameworks provide an over-arching list of the skills required in particular work settings or contexts. They are broad descriptions, against which specific skills can be mapped. Typically they cover a range of job roles andor work contexts.

Many organisations have critically analysed the role/s and formulated the necessities to perform the roles. Not only is there a LIST of what is required, they also have graded the capabilities in priority groups. These levels reflect a progressive increase in complexity and skill that may be required from the candidate. Job applications for  many public sector jobs  now require you to address “capability statements” in your application. These were developed using a capability framework and have replaced the old “selection criteria“. NO application will be considered seriously unless your application incorporates the capabilities.

So, you find “that” great job and you eagerly apply.  You notice that they only have a few application requirements, that is, a resume and responses to a few “target questions“.

Often the target questions seem quite simplistic, innocuous even, just like the following examples:

1. We are all faced with challenging deadlines. Could you describe a scenario where you had competing deadlines. How did you manage your workload? What was the end outcome?   OR
2. Please describe a situation where you had a complex issue that had to be resolved. What was the issue? What factors did you have to consider in resolving it? What was the outcome?

Then you notice other documents, like the position description; a table with capability framework and capability statements.  All these documents need to be thoroughly analysed prior to your application. DON’T assume that they are just background chatter! The “trick” is to incorporate the capabilities into target question responses .YEEK – not as easy as it sounds!

This is my advice for tackling target questions

1. read and analyse all documents
2. visit the public sector website for handy hints
3. note the “weightings” on specific capabilities – some are more important than others
4. create responses that reflect the capabilities, in fact adapt and use some the wording used to describe the capabilities for example in response to a target question on the capability, challenging deadlines

“I self managed the work load by formulating a clear and simple Business plan that followed measurable and achievable goals and included priorities and deadlines. I arranged the project into bite sized projects and whilst investigating and researching the project I proactively encouraged “excellence in trade operators” to gain their T A E qualification. This ensured that I had a workforce plan with capable resources.  Once I set the operational targets, I consulted and evaluated the progress with the customer demographic, along with the team and executives. I solicited feedback, gathered more ideas and resolved potential problems”. The outcomes were,  job ready staff, new products delivered on time; increase in student numbers .

NOTE the following: The items in “bold” all reflect the abilities required to handle challenges BASED on the capability statements that are clearly outlined in the application documents . Also note that it was all set in the past and the story had the following formula or structure

1. a scenario or situation 2. what you did in the scenario 3. the results or outcomes

Many organisations, especially those that all on-line applications, also use software programs that check for KEY words and phrases as they pertain to the capability statements and grade your application accordingly!!!

Computers now conduct searches for the vital key words in a resume and the targeted responses to  find the more qualified candidates in a few key strokes.  They don’t care how long  or detailed your resume is (now) because they let the search engine do the identification based on what THEY ARE LOOKING FOR and believe that the software will identify the more qualified candidates to interview.

So start the process of updating and obtaining a rewrite of your resume TODAY with the best resume writer in the marketplace so you, as the job seeker, can be ready to actively (or passively) search for that next exciting career job!

Ivana Agapiou Resume Writer 

Extensive experience in Education, Training and Employment services both in private and public sectors – 0404056278

The post What are Capability Frameworks and how to treat them seriously… appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

• an OH & S Construction certification
• experience with labouring
• an MR Licence with driving experience
• Forklift licence
• ability to spot weld
• to be strong and healthy
• be available at short notice

To apply for this role please submit your application below.

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 Jobs need hard skills, experience, but also attitudinal and personal attributes that enhance the work environment

You may have the qualifications and even the experience needed to perform the work, however if you don’t possess the hard-core “soft skills”, that is, a strong work ethic, an ability to get on with others and a high level of emotional intelligence, your success in any role could be greatly diminished.

In 2002, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry produced the Employ-ability Skills for the Future report in consultation with other peak employer bodies.  The report identified  key, generic employ-ability skills that individuals should have along with relevant job-specific and/or technical skills. They are:

1. Communication
2. Teamwork
3. Problem solving
4. Initiative and enterprise
5. Planning and organising
6. Self-management
7. Learning & Technology

1. Communication

Developing your communication skills can help all aspects of your life, from your professional life to social gatherings and everything in between.  The ability to communicate information accurately, clearly and as intended, is a vital life skill and something that should not be overlooked.  It’s never too late to improve your communication skills and by doing so improve your quality of life. Professionally, if you are applying for jobs or looking for a promotion with your current employer, you will almost certainly need to demonstrate good communication skills. For example, the ability to:

• present appropriately to a wide variety of audiences
• demonstrate a varied vocabulary and tailor language to suit your audience
• listen effectively and when required, present ideas appropriately,
• write clearly, concisely with the reader in mind
• perform well in a team, showing initiative and common sense as well as respecting others

Many of these are essential skills that employers seek. As your career progresses, the importance of communication skills increases; the ability to speak, listen, question and write with clarity and conciseness are essential for most managers and leaders.

2. Teamwork

Getting on with others; understanding how others as well as you, can contribute positively to the team effort is a most important aspect of any role. The ability to work effectively with others on a common task; taking actions which respect the needs and contributions of others; contributing to, and accepting the consensus; negotiating a win-win solution to achieve are all aspects of a great team member.

Behavioural indicators include:-

• Building and Maintaining Relationships
• Give and receive feedback from peers or other team members in order to perform the task and improve outcomes
• Share credit for good ideas with others.
• Acknowledge others’ skill, experience, creativity, and contributions.
• Listen to,  and acknowledge the feelings, concerns, opinions, and ideas of others.
• Expand on the ideas of a peer or team member.
• State personal opinions and areas of disagreement tactfully.
• Listen patiently to others in conflict situations.
• Define problems in a non-threatening manner.
• Support group decisions even if not in total agreement.
• Achieving the task
• Give and seek input from others (in formulating plans for recommendations).
• Assist others in solving problems and achieving own goals.
• Share information, ideas, and suggestions.
• Ask for help in identifying and achieving goals and solving problems.
• Check for agreement, and gain commitment to shared goals.
• Notify others of changes or problems in a timely manner.
• Make procedural suggestions to encourage progress towards goals.
• Check for understanding.
• Negotiate to achieve a “win-win” outcome.

Do you have These Skills?

You’ll need to be able to prove to employers that you actually have the skills they want for the job. In applications and interviews they will ask ‘competency questions’ or ask for ‘capability statements’ that begin with phrases such as ‘tell me a time when …………. ‘ or ‘give me an example of ………….. ‘ Your answers will be the evidence that you have what it takes.

To find out how well developed your skills are already you could try this simple exercise:

Rate yourself on each of the behaviours:

• 1 = I do this very well. I am consistent and successful in it
• 2 = I am good at this. With some practice I can make it perfect!
• 3 = I am getting better, but still need to work on this a bit more.
• 4 = I am not particularly good at this – yet!

Revisit this exercise several times – you’ll want to have as many skills as possible at 1 and 2 before you apply for graduate jobs.

And, think about all the life situations you’ve been in – university, work, leisure, travel, social – and identify incidents and examples from them that show that you have already used the skill.

3. Problem Solving

Even when it isn’t specified in the job description, many employers will look at your problem solving skills at various different stages of the application process. This could be anything from psychometric tests to group activities or one-to-one interviews.

Problem solving is all about using logic, as well as imagination, to make sense of your situation and come up with an intelligent solution. It is connected to a number of other skills:

• A Level head and resilience in assessing a situation, and reassessing it if you fail the first time
• Analytical skills, creativity and logical thinking to reach a solution

4. Initiative and enterprise

Are you able to see innovative ways of doing things? do you have experience in  seizing opportunities, and taking initiative?  It may involve a newer way of looking at a situation or the addition of a new idea to improve or streamline an existing process. You’ve developed your initiative and enterprise skills if you’ve taken on leadership roles or practiced a better way of doing things.

Skills in initiative and enterprise are demonstrated by:

• adapting to new situations
• developing a strategic or long-term vision
• identifying opportunities not obvious to others
• translating ideas into action
• generating a range of options
• initiating innovative solutions

5. Planning and organising

This involves the ability to identify what is required in a given situation and to manage people and resources effectively to achieve results.  It also involves being able to manage time efficiently and priorities what tasks need to be done to achieve an overall goal.

You’ve planned and organized when you decided what courses to take at University, devised a study schedule for exam time, or managed work and school commitments simultaneously.

Examples of Planning and Organizing include:

• managing time and priorities
• establishing clear project goals and deliverables
• allocating people and other resources to tasks
• multi- deadline and time management
• collecting, analysing and organising information

6. Self-management

This skill refers to the ability to take responsibility for your own actions and life direction, and to set goals and successfully achieve them.  It involves setting achievable goals and using your time and resources effectively to achieve them.

If you’ve worked independently on a project, thought about your career goals and researched how to achieve them, or used a diary to plan your semester, you’ve demonstrated self management skills.

Self Management skills are demonstrated by:

• planning ahead and having a personal vision and goals
• evaluating and monitoring one’s own performance
• taking responsibility
• articulating ideas and vision

 7. Learning and Technology

Maintaining currency by keeping abreast of new technology and applying it to problems, as well as the ability to embrace life-long learning in the field of technology.

Skills in using technology are demonstrated by:

• having a range of basic IT skills
• willingness to acquire new IT skills
• selecting the appropriate technology for a given task

Learning refers to your ability to manage your own learning and contribute to ongoing improvement and expansion in your own knowledge and skill set.  This also refers to your ability to learn workplace skills and expectations specific to your organization.

If you actively seek to learn new things in lectures, have taken courses to develop specific hobbies or skills or have successfully fit into a new work environment, you’ve used your lifelong learning skills.

Skills in lifelong learning are demonstrated by:

• being open to new ideas and techniques
• contributing to the learning community at the workplace
• actively seeking a range of mediums to learn– mentoring, peer support, workshops or networking
• having enthusiasm for ongoing learning
• being willing to learn in any setting; on and off the job
• being prepared to invest time and effort into learning new skills

What soft skills do you possess? what ones do you think you need to fine-tune?   You can never learn too much! If you need help identifying your soft skills along with responding to a job application that requires you to outline your experiences.. Phone Ivana on 0404056278

Ivana Agapiou resume writer

The post Soft skills – its a hard-core necessity appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Variety of jobs posted every day! 

Are you in the job market? Do you seek either temporary or permanent employment within the Mid North Coast? Have you a resume prepared and are you regularly checking the net for roles?

Look no further! We have a variety of jobs for many industries and diverse skill-sets…. check out https://www.eatherrecruitment.com.au/business-development-sales-admin/

for latest job offering and many more!

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 Selection Criteria Responses that get you THAT interview.  Your application needs to have an  inviting “bite”.

Recently, I heard an interview on ABC Radio National. A leading HR company was discussing the ways to best respond to Key Selection Criteria. He stipulated how important is was to create interest, to “bait” and attract the reader enough to get you an interview.

Here is a very quick synopsis from the interview.

Many employers are looking for the right “fit” and this means that they want to get to know you, your likes, dislikes and most importantly… your failings… we all hate that dreaded question “What are your weaknesses?if you can’t find an example from work experiences,use examples from “life” .

1. To respond to questions we often refer to work experiences,  and all about forget our life’s experiences… Think of a time in your every day life that might be a suitable example to demonstrate your ability to perform.

2.  Use examples from “learned” experiences – mistakes you’ve made, what you learned and how this has made you a better, smarter employee

3.  Provide stories – examples of when you did wonderfully and what that meant to the outcome of the project/task

So basically, don’t panic if you don’t have work examples for all the questions – use your life experiences.  LASTLY,  remain up-beat; positive and always write in the active voice!

There’s loads more to know – if you seek help with your resume/ job application – phone Ivana 0404056278

Ivana Agapiou resume writer and career advisor

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Not just a detour! It’s a diversion worth the experience!

Who would have thought that on the busy Pacific Highway at Coolongolook, that a Cafe and restaurant, called The Salty Dog would be a winner?

Who would even know that the stop was worth every quiet minute and every cent?

I’ve  been stopping at the Salty Dog for over 5 years, every time I travel  to the Hunter Valley, Newcastle or Sydney,  I make the easy decision to make the tough, wide, U-turn and drive into  the Salty Dog car park. Yes, it’s out of my way, and often a pain, as is in  the opposite direction, however each time it’s a pleasure and worth the detour! Even though they advertise fresh seafood, I must admit that I have never purchased any

So,  what’s the attraction? Firstly, it’s a novelty place with loads of interesting re-cycled furniture and art works, secondly and most importantly, the coffee is great and the service friendly. Particularly, I always enjoy the breakfast!  It certainly is value for money!  The other great feature is the little extras you can purchase, like home made Sugar- Vanilla persevered Pears! These make great gifts and taste damn good too!

Next time you want to have a stop that will make you feel better in your travels on life’s highway – Stop and savour at the Salty Dog! Country hospitality at it’s best!

Ivana Agapiou

The post Added Value for the customer experience appeared first on Eather Recruitment.