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.

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.

 Job search is filled with opportunities to worry, stress, and disappoint.

When you start your job search journey, understand it could be an emotional  roller coaster.  It’s normal to feel some angst, but not too good if the trip is full of it.

Like any journey, it needs a plan. You  have to find the right advertisement; for the right kind of job;  at the right company;  and all for the right reasons. Then there’s the application itself as as well as the wait to hear back from the employer. Let’s explore some of these stages of job search

Right Advertisement

It usually means setting up “alerts” for many of the major companies as well as on-line companies like SEEK. Some job adverts look amazing, too good to be true even! “like no experience necessary, we train you” stuff. Read between the lines and be skeptical.  Always follow your instincts and first impressions. Remember that the advert reflects the image of the employer. Reading the advert, you may gain a sense of their culture or personality. If there are “cringe” factors or unbelievable statements like “we want a super human who can delight customers 24/7  you might want to think twice before you send your resume, or hopefully it piques your interest and you apply anyway.

The right kind of job

The general rule is that you should only apply for jobs where you can hand on heart say ” I can do 80% of all of that”. That’s the minimum.  if they ask for mandatory qualifications, then you will NEED those. Naturally, you will have to like the tasks and responsibilities also. Check that you actually WANT to perform the work/job. You may be well suited, but ask yourself if you do you want to work in that field and in that role? The grass is not always greener, so make sure its a leap ahead of where you are at now

The right reasons

Money of often the main motivator. Lets face it – it is!  The trouble with this reason as the major motive for applying for a job is that it may land you into a role that is soul destroying; erodes your family life and freedom and keeps you going because you like what the money can buy. If that’s the only reason, than expect to give something up or a lot up, in return. The best reason to apply for a particular job is for the experience, the enhanced learning, the workplace and the sense of accomplishment. Yes, you want to be paid and as long as the salary marries with the job responsibilities, and meets IR wage /legislation that’s really the bottom line.

Your best foot forward in the application

The majority of time spent in your job search should be on securing the best resume and enticing cover letter. DON’T send the same resume to every job advert unless all the adverts are the same! Adapt your application to fit/suit the requirements and nuances of the advert. DO NOT LIE. The way to the employer’s attention and the way to gain an interview is to match your skills. experience and knowledge to the requirements of the job.

The right company

We always hear of Employer of choice workplaces and companies.  Voices whispering ” Did you hear how much they pay their staff?” or stories about the amount of time off  the staff receive etc. Yep. There are great companies to work for. Yep. They do exist. Yep. apply when they advertise for sure.  But make sure YOU like them too and for all the right reasons.  So, we are back to the right reasons again.

In summary, do your research, not just on the advert; the company background – but on yourself. Is this really, really what you really, really want? Don’t act so desperate that you accept a job that you eventually resent. Speaking of desperation, during the job search phase many of us dread the waiting for a response. We may act desperate here too.

The Waiting

Many companies have a structured recruitment phase. Often the bigger the company, the longer they take to recruit. However, small business owners who are time poor, may also take a long time to contact you. Sadly, all too often, many don’t call; write or email you back at all. This wait period is, and can be, highly stressful. To ease your anxiety, make a list of all the jobs you applied for. On this list, include the Company name; the job outline;  the date you applied (or their closing date for applications)  and the reasons why you applied. That way, if /when you get THE CALL, you will be prepared. This is important to do especially if you have applied for several jobs at once. There is nothing more unprofessional than responding to that all important call with “who are ya?” or even worse, “what job did I apply for?”

Lastly, you got the call! and now all you have to do is prepare, prepare and prepare for the interview, break a leg!

for more information go to www.figjamresumes.com.au

Ivana Agapiou

Ivana Agapiou resume writer and career advisor

The post Chance is a fickle thing, job research is not appeared first on Eather Recruitment.

Better Public Speaking and Presentation skills

” Essential skills for career acceleration”

Think of the last really memorable talk or presentation that you attended.

Now, was that easy to do, or did you really have to really think hard to remember one?

Sadly, too many presentations are easy to forget. And that’s a big problem because the only reason the presenter gave the talk was to communicate something to you!

However, there are 4 basic things that you can do to ensure that your verbal messages are understood – and remembered – time and time again.

Although somewhat obvious and deceptively simple, these are:

1. Understand the purpose of the presentation – to persuade, to delight, to inform?
2. Keep the message clear and concise – stick to the rule of “threes”
3. Be prepared – practice, practice, practice
4. Be vivid when delivering the message – use words that create imagery – use body language to best effect

Understand what you want to achieve

Before you start working on your talk or presentation, it’s vital that you really understand what you want to say, who you want to tell and why they might want to hear it. To do this, ask yourself: 6 wise questions: Who? What? How? When? Where? Why?

Who are you speaking to? What are their interests, assumptions and values? What do they share in common with others; how are they unique?

What do you wish to communicate? One way of answering this question is to ask yourself about the ‘success criteria’. How do you know if and when you have successfully communicated what you have in mind?

How can you best convey your message? Language is important here, as are the nonverbal cues discussed earlier. Choose your words and your nonverbal cues with your audience in mind. Plan a beginning, middle and end. If time and place allow, consider and prepare audio-visual aids.

When? Timing is important here. Develop a sense of timing, so that your contributions are seen and heard as relevant to the issue or matter at hand. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. ‘a Presenter that goes over the scheduled time is not always received well.’

Where? What is the physical context of the communication in mind? You may have time to visit the room, for example, and rearrange the furniture. Check for availability and visibility if you are using audio or visual aids.

Why? In order to convert people from “hearers” into listeners, you need to know why they should listen to you – and tell them if necessary. What disposes them to listen? That implies that you know yourself why you are seeking to communicate – the value or worth or interest of what you are going to say.

Keep it simple… content is NOT King, it’s the how that really matters!

When it comes to wording your message, less is more. You’re giving your audience headlines. They don’t need to and are usually not expecting to become experts on the subject as a result of hearing your talk. I suggest you have a leading beginning that informs your audience what you are going to talk about… and help your audience follow your thought process by providing the main points you will cover.  Lead into your first point and link in to the other two. Provide a summary of what you just said as a conclusion to your presentation. ” Say what you are going to say, say it, and say it again”

If you’re using slides, limit the content of each one to a few bullet points, or one statement or a very simple diagram

Be prepared, that way you appear & feel the calm!

Preparation is the KEY! In fact, it is one of the most important factors in determining your communication successes. When possible, set meeting times and speaking and presentation times well in advance, thus allowing yourself the time you need to prepare your communications, mindful of the entire communication process By paying close attention to each of these stages and preparing accordingly, you ensure your communications will be more effective and better understood. Practice in front of a mirror, the dog, your family and friends…. it WILL help!

Of course, not all communications can be scheduled. In this case, preparation may mean having a good, thorough understanding of the office goings-on, enabling you to communicate with the knowledge you need to be effective, both through verbal and written communications.

Unforgettable delivery means paying attention to the non-verbals!

Your delivery of your speech or presentation will make or break it, no matter how well you’ve prepared and crafted your clear, concise message. Some useful tips for keeping your presentation vivid include:

• Use examples to bring your points to life
• Keep your body language up-beat – don’t stay stuck behind a lecture!
• Don’t talk to fast. Less is more here too. Pauses are effective.
• Use a variety of tones of voice
• Use visual aids.

Most of all try to enjoy the moment! Remember that your audience wants to see you succeed, they want to spend quality time discovering new information or being entertained.

All the very best!

The post Need help with the Perfect presentation? appeared first on Eather Recruitment.