Looking for work

Developing a job search strategy will ensure you have an efficient and effective approach to accessing both advertised and unadvertised employment opportunities.

A major influence on your job search strategy will be the type of work you are looking for.  There are a range of methods you can utilise as part of your job search strategy.

Graduate opportunities are targeted at people who have recently completed their university degree. Whether it’s a structured graduate program or an entry level graduate position, further training and professional development are often provided as part of these positions.

To find out more about looking for graduate employment:

Some companies advertise jobs on their own websites while others may use industry specific websites or portals.

Whilst print media, including newspapers, industry magazines and publications, advertise employment opportunities targeted at their readership, an increasing number of positions are promoted online through internet job boards, company and professional association websites, and recruitment agencies.

These advertisements will not necessarily provide you with all the details about a position. Most professional appointments will have additional information known as a Job or Position Description, which outlines key responsibilities and reporting structures, as well as essential and desirable criteria. This additional information will assist you in deciding if a role is suitable for you to apply for and, if so, to tailor your application to the specific requirements.

Speak to industry professionals, lecturers and your networks to help uncover where your chosen industry prefers to advertise.

To find out more about advertised opportunities:

Vacation work and internships are generally aimed at penultimate and final year undergraduate students. You can expect to be supervised and assessed during this experience, as many employers use this opportunity to assess your suitability for a graduate program.

To find out about uncovering internship and vacation work opportunites:

Our active agent for vacation work & internship

Whether you’re an international student returning home after graduation or a domestic student looking for a new experience overseas, searching for employment in another country can be a daunting task. To find out more about international graduate opportunities:

On average, 30% of all jobs are unadvertised. To access these unadvertised, or ‘hidden’, jobs you will need to utilize your personal networks or try cold canvassing. Cold canvassing involves targeting specific companies or industries you would like to work for.

A crucial part of this approach is developing your “pitch.” Researching the company will assist you to tailor your pitch to your audience and to communicate what you have to offer the employer that fits their business needs.

Another significant factor in creating your strategy will be where you look for opportunities.  To increase your chances of successfully locating employment opportunities that fit your personal criteria, consider the following aspects of the employment market

LinkedIn

Not all networking happens in-person. LinkedIn is an invaluable online tool to help you build your networks. To find out more about using LinkedIn:

Once you have created your LinkedIn profile, you can have it instantly reviewed through VMock Aspire.

Networking

While networking is not about asking others for work, building relationships with people in your chosen field can provide you with access to employment opportunities. To find out more about building your networks: