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Looking for work
Apply for the job
Applying for a job requires that you 'sell' yourself to an employer as the best person for that job. Your first contact with the prospective employer is very important. You need to convince them that they should interview you.
Telephoning the employer about an advertised vacancy
Writing a job application
Telephoning the employer about an advertised vacancy
A job advertisement might invite you to telephone the employer directly. This could be to find out more about the job, or ask for an application form to be sent, or to arrange an interview. You should call as soon as possible after the advertisement has appeared.
Here are a few ideas to make this a bit easier.
Preparing for the call
Work out what you want to say. Prepare a list of questions about the job. These may include aspects of the job that were not covered in the advertisement, such as the duties, age requirements, experience sought, qualifications, salary, location and how to apply.
Have your résumé ready.
Have a pen and paper ready to take notes.
Have your diary with you so you know your availability for an interview.
Note the title and name of the person you have to ask for (if stated in the advertisment).
Making the call
Check whether the advertisement specifies a particular time to call. Keep your call brief – ask for the information you want and answer any questions the employer asks. Make sure you sound interested in the job.
Speak clearly and directly into the mouthpiece.
Speak with a 'smile' and be friendly and confident.
Keep to the point. For example: My name is Lisa Clark. I am calling about your advertisement for a mechanic.
Be prepared to answer questions about your qualifications and any experience related to the job.
Try to make sure you are not going to be interrupted.
Make sure there is no background noise (like music or people chatting).
Make a note of the time, place and person you will report to for the interview.
Always try to fit in with the suggested interview time.
End the call by thanking the person for taking the time to speak with you.
If you do not get an interview, remember that you are only starting the process. You need to believe that if it is not this job, it may be the next, or the one after that .
If you are having difficulty in getting information from the employer about the employment conditions associated with the job, there are government agencies that can assist you. See Information about wages, employment conditions and contracts in this section.
Writing a job application
Most job advertisements ask you to submit an application by post, fax or email. Check for the 'closing date' – this is the date that the employer must receive your application by. You will need to allow time for your application to be delivered if you are sending it by post.
Sometimes the employer will ask you to fill in a written or online form, or obtain an information pack. Or they might ask you to 'address selection criteria' (see the end of this section for information on selection criteria). Read the job advertisement carefully and make sure you follow the directions exactly, or your application may not be considered.
However, most job applications are written in two parts. The first part is a short letter, called a cover letter, saying that you would like to apply for the job and the reasons why. The second part is a summary of your personal details called a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV).
Cover letter
Cover letters win interviews, not jobs. A cover letter is your opportunity to target your skills, highlight your selling points and answer these important questions:
Can you do the job? Do you have the abilities, skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications?
Will you do the job well? Are you motivated, reliable and enthusiastic?
Will you fit into the organisation? Do you match the company's image, values and goals? Will you get along well with clients and co-workers?
What you should include in your cover letter
Contact details: your name, address, phone number and email address. Make sure they are correct and up to date.
Date: use the date that you plan to send the application on.
Name and address of the contact person: include their full name, title, company, street or PO Box, town or suburb, state or territory and postcode. If no name is given, try to find out by calling the organisation.
Salutation: begin your cover letter with Dear Mr/Ms/Dr and their last name, e.g. Dear Ms Rae. If you cannot find out the contact person's name, use Dear Sir/Madam.
Opening paragraph: explain your purpose and give the reader a reason to read on. State which position you are applying for, giving a reference number if applicable; mention when and where you saw the advertisement, or how you found out about the vacancy; and briefly explain why you are interested in the position.
Second paragraph: demonstrate that you can do the job by matching your experience, skills and qualifications with what the employer has asked for. Use two or three selling points and focus on what you have to offer. Your aim is to encourage the reader to seek more details from your résumé.
Third paragraph: show that you are willing to do the job and can fit into the organisation. Address any remaining details from the advertisement, such as availability, transport requirements or start date, e.g. I am available to work weekends or evenings as required and can start work at one week's notice to my current employer.
Fourth paragraph: thank the reader for considering the application and refer to your enclosed résumé and other attachments. Indicate that you would appreciate an interview to discuss your application.
Closing: if your salutation was Dear Sir/Madam, end with Yours faithfully. If it was Dear Mr/Ms/Dr Smith, end with Yours sincerely. Leave a couple of lines for your signature, then type your full name.
If your cover letter is convincing, an employer will consider your application further. In some cases, with time pressures and a large number of applications to read through, an employer may have to make this decision in about 30 seconds.
An employer looks for:
how well you communicate, including structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation
your experience, skills and qualifications
your level of professionalism
clues to your employability skills and attributes
your attention to detail.
Preparing the final copy:
Type your letter on a computer. Handwrite your letter only if the advertisement asks for a handwritten letter (this is quite uncommon).
Do not send a photocopy of a generic cover letter, or fill in any details by hand – create a fresh letter specifically for each application.
Use a plain font such as Arial or Times.
Leave space around the edges (margins) and between each paragraph.
Check the letter carefully for spelling, punctuation, grammar and typing errors.
Ask someone else to check it as well.
Fix any mistakes, print your final copy on clean, white, A4 paper, and sign it just above your name at the bottom.
If your cover letter, application and résumé cannot be folded to fit a DL size envelope (1/3 of normal page), use an A4 envelope.
Only send material that was requested in the advertisement or application pack.
If references, school reports or certificates are needed, send copies, not the originals.
Keep a copy of your application to refer to in the interview or to use for ideas when applying for other positions in the future.
TIP
It is always a good idea to get someone to read through your application before you submit it.
Click here to see an example of a Cover Letter
Selection criteria
Many employers, particularly government organisations, ask applicants to 'address selection criteria' in their application. The employer will provide a list of skills, experience, qualifications and attributes called 'selection criteria'. Often the list is divided into 'essential' and 'desirable'. You must be able to meet all the essential criteria in order to be considered for the position, so read the list carefully.
To address the selection criteria, the applicant prepares a statement that explains how their experience matches each criteria, usually by giving examples. Employers use this statement to get a good idea of whether the applicant has the specific skills and abilities needed for the job before asking them in for an interview.
It is unlikely you will need to address selection criteria early on in your career. However, preparing responses to selection criteria is an invaluable skill to develop, and one which you will probably need later in your career. You can find detailed information on selection criteria on the Gradlink website at http://www.gradlink.edu.au .