Getting a job
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Job Hunting
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Most career experts agree that only about 15-20 per cent of all available jobs are advertised. So then, in order to achieve your goal of securing work, you will need to know where else to look.
The open job market refers to vacancies that are publicly advertised in places such as Centrelink; on the internet; in newspapers; employment agencies; and noticeboards.
So just how do you go about discovering a job that hasn’t been advertised?
Well, according to career coach Michelle Feros, of Vision Decisions word-of-mouth networking is definitely the way to go. Ms Feros says by accessing the so-called hidden job market you will be at a competitive advantage because of the simple fact you are not competing with hundreds of other applicants.
“What happens is that although you still have to be qualified and suitable for the job, you stand out from the crowd because there isn’t as much of a crowd,” she says.
Ms Feros says job-seekers are also ahead of the game because the element of trust and credibility has already been established.
She suggests the best way to go about developing a broad list of contacts is to start looking at your friends, neighbours, acquaintances and people you play sport with and then expanding on that network.
“Once you have developed strong relationships with your contacts you can then start using them to your advantage to get a job and looking further afield to join different clubs and associations,” she says.
Ms Feros warns that part of the job-search process when networking is to take the time to build a rapport with someone before launching in and asking them a direct question.
“There is certainly etiquette involved. You need to wait for the signals to make sure it’s appropriate before you put yourself forward with a direct question such as ‘Do you have a job?’,” she says.
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The My Future website states job search networking is simply about making connections with people. The site’s networking strategy advises:
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- Make a list of all the people you know;
- Prepare what you want to say;
- Contact those on your list in a systematic way
- Ask them for job leads
- Contact the people you’ve been referred to
- Follow up leads and contacts
- Continue to network
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