WELL BEING GUIDE
THE EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES DIRECTORY helping you find work
A Resource Guide For Job Hunting And Sourcing Employment Opportunities
Introduction Looking for work as in any enterprise in life it is important to approach looking for work with a positive mind set and plenty of self confidence with a firm belief in the wonderful personal qualities you have to contribute to any company or organization lucky enough to hire you
I believe we attract lovely opportunities to ourselves including fantastic employment opportunies when we hold our vision still with faith and positive intentions about what we are asking the Universe for . I believe that we come better magnets for attracting work opportunities that engage and fulfil us when we believe we can absolutely have the type of work we are looking for and when we assume that it is not only are you absolutely worthy and deserving of working at your ideal job but it is actually good plain old logical common sense that you are naturally meant for the type of work you are seeking .
I found over the years in attracting the right job opportunities it was important to keep ones focus on thinking about how one can contribute and the value you can add to the world and the community with the sharing and flowing of your particular and unique combination of skills and talents gifts fortes and personality rather than coming form a viewpoint of a desperate bid to grab any sort of job to earn money .While we can all certainly relate to that feeling of panic and desperation about needing money to pay bills and the pain and frustration some of us go through in looking for work it is important to centre yourself in the consideration of your strengths and attributes that you have to offer an employer first and foremost to become a successful magnet for work opportunities
Such thinking I believe is more likely to generate interesting and worthwhile employment opportunities that you feel engaged in and good about which not only nourish the bank balance but also the soul and the spirit.Perhaps the luckiest people in the world are those who are employed in fields and jobs which are a direct reflection and in complete alignment with their goals and values and visions for what they would like most to contribute to the world.This is why perhaps I am sure people who work for Creativity Australia feel so good about getting up to go to work each morning .
Perhaps this sense of being aligned to working in a job with purpose and meaning is more about natural vocation than just a job and when you are in the flow of being involved in and passionate about those things in life you most care about doing is when you are most magnetic to fantastic job opportunites .
Also goal setting is very important and being very clear about the type of work you would like to be doing and the field you would like to be working in ,the type of position you seek to hold and the type of salary you would like to be earning and a time frame by which you intend to have attracted an employment opportunity .
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Also after you believe you have done everything possible to create an employment opportunity and open up the channels for work to come to you to also surrender to the process ,Believing that the Universe is on your side and if you have absolutely done your part God/Goddess the Universe will also do its part
Fortune Favours the Bold
For the more entreprenereal self starters with the gift of the gab A maverick approach might yield rich dividends for you if you might go cold calling boldly approaching those employers you might like to work for who you believe absolutely need your skills and talents .You might call by their office and ask to speak to the Managing Director or the CEO if he/she has a spare minute and an ear to lend you.
In my bold intrepid and fearless younger years when I had taken a break from teaching to pursue a freelance writing career I loved writing stories for children but feeling the money was in technical writing once rocked up to a heavy industry PR agency with my little compendium of handwritten fairy stories (that’s right folks they weren’t even typed) and asked to speak to the Managing Director .I recall as I talked to the guy whose name was Peter telling him I was looking for writing work the guy sitting with his feet up on his desk looking at my stories with great amusement .My style wasn’t quite what he was looking for in his stable of technical writers but it turned out he was a closet railway modeller and he put out a railway modelling magazine and I walked out of his office that afternoon with a writing assignment on miniature railway modeling worth several thousand dollars .So fortune it seems does indeed favour the bold .
Employment Agencies
There are hundreds of Employment Agencies throughout Melbourne .Some of the larger agencies will have their head offices in metropolitan Melbourne and smaller branch offices in the suburbs .You can either search in the local Telstra Yellow Pages Metropolitan Directory or your local yellow pages Directory to find a list of employment agencies in your area you can approach.You can also google the Telstra yellow pages online to find the same information.
These employment agencies may specialize in particular professional placements eg accounting teaching nursing etc ,or general office admin or hospitality skilled and unskilled labour etc .The Agencies may deal only infinding permanent job placements for people or they also have a casual and temporary employment division which can also offer casual and temporary work opportunities while you are waiting for a permanent job or which you might even prefer to a permanent placement
Once you have successfully located an agency which is a good match for the kind of work you would like to fiind ,an agency will be happy to talk to you because agencies earn commissions and their business actually depends on placing people in jobs .Once an agent has determined that you are a good prospective candidate for work they can become a most useful and effective ally in helping you find work .
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An agency can promote you to employers who regularly use their services and agents can have access to information about positions not advertised through more public channels They can submit your resume to several different employers at a time .An agent can help you taylor your resume to suit the position you are applying for .They can help prep you for interviews and give you moral support and useful feedback after an interview.Remember theagency gets paid when you get a job so it is in their interests to be proactive in supporting you in your job search enterprises
EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
(1) Hays recruitment www.hays.com.au Head office Ph 96049600
A very large agency has dozens of offices throughout Victoria located in Melbourne CBD
Camberwell, Geelong and Mulgrave Perhaps ring their head office to get details of the office
located nearest to you that caters to the type of employment you are specifically looking for
Offers both permanent and temporary job placements
(2) Manpower www.manpower.com.au Melbourne Office Ph 86334000
Has offices in Melbourne Preston Laverton and Mt Waverly
Offers both permanent and temporary job placements
(3) Julia Ross www.juliaross.com Head Office ph 86208200
IT Recruitment Division Ph 86291100 Specialist Recruitment Division Ph 86291100
Has 2 Melbourne based offices
Offers permanent and temporary job placements
(4) Adecco www.adecco.com.au Head Office ph 99542100
Places 8000 temporary employees with 3000 clients across Australia each day.So definately one to checkout if you are seeking temporary or casual employment .
Has offices in Melbourne ph 99542400 , Clayton 95621325 , Blackburn 92989677
Derrimuta 92015150 and Laverton 93606100
Offers permanent and temporary job placements
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JOB SEARCHING WESITES
Job searching websites .Another popular and easy way to source job vacancies is through online employment agencies .These usually will list the jobs in different categories and regions which you need to specify as you commence your search .The listed ads have links to fuller job specs and descriptions which usually will either refer you a website for more information about the vacancy or give you details about the job including the specific criterion they wish you to address before giving you the option to apply for the job online .Applying for the job online usually requires you to upload a cover letter and a resume .It is advisable to read the job advertisement extremely carefully a couple of times and make a point in your cover letter of specifically addressing the job criterion they have outlined as being particularly important in the position .Make sure you indicate to the prospective employer what skills and experience you can bring to the position which specifically addresses the particular job criterion they have outlined . Also scanning in your references so you upload these as part of your resume will give the employers extra information about you that might give you the edge in being considered for the job you are applying for .Usually these sites will send you an email to assure you the your job application has been forwarded onto the employer .
Take note of the employers name and phone number too so that you can make direct contact if you need to check on the progress of your application.
Here is a list of Job Searching Websites
www.seek.com.au www.mycareer.com.au
www.careerone.com.au www.jobsearch.com.au
www.jobs.vic.gov.au www.jobs.com.au
www.daywork.com.au www.alljobs.com.au
www.infoxchange.net.au www.pathwaysaustralia.com.au
www.ethicaljobs.com.au www.reedglobal.com
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CASUAL WORK OPPORTUNITIES
The following section of this guide focuses on the many opportunites and possibilities to consider when looking for casual and temporary work
The really great thing about casual work is that it can be something you can pick up readily which can pay cash in hand with flexible working hours .Casual work can offer you the opportunity toy to explore and develop these skills and talents and even possibly eventually turn your hobbies fortes and passions into lucrative business opportunites
In thinking about exploring the casual job market think about marrying your particular skillsand talents interests and fortes to the services lot of people are seeking on an everyday basis
Here are some suggestions of services people are always in need of g : Chidcare, nannying, companion to an elderly person,house keeping and house cleaning,pool cleaning,car cleaning and detailing,dog walking.pet sitting and house sitting ,gardening and handyman work ,rubbish removal etc ,catering ,book keeping and typing skills children’s birthday party entertainment etc etc .
These are the sorts of jobs you can pick up at a moments notice if you know where to look and be paid cash in hand within days of starting work
So where does one go to look for and generate these sorts of possibilities
Here are some suggestions
Newspapers Metropolitan Local and Community newspapers
Casual Work Opportunites will be advertised in larger Metropolitan newspapers in the Casual Work Sections .
Casual Job Vacancies may also be advertised in the Employment Sections of the smaller local and Community Newspapers . The latter can be a particularly rich source of casual work opportunity .
Placing your own advertisement
Another way to source casual work through newspapers is to be proactive in placing your own advertisement in local newspapers in the WORK WANTED or CLASSIFIED sections under the headings relevant to the work you are seeking e.g .childcare, cleaning,handyman services .
Lodging your own Ad in a Local Community Newspaper in the can be a very effective and powerful way of generating casual work opportunites for yourself . The financial outlay for these advertisements can be quite reasonable and yield rich dividends in casual work opportunities for you . Usually when paying for your Advertisement you can get a package deal with local newspaper offices whereby you can run your ad for a whole month for a discounted price . Page 6 It pays to be savvy about how you might make your ad stand out or catch the readers eye over other ads.One way to generate a readers attention to your ad first is to word your advertisement so that it appears at the top of an alphabetical listing , or you might pay a few extra dollars for underlining a heading in bold etc and specify clearly the service you are offering .Keeping the ad positive and upbeat will help generate a successful result for you and you could be out working within days of people reading your advertisement.
Years ago in Sydney I decided to take a break from teaching but needed to earn some income so I decided to undertake to do some housekeeping and duly put an ad in my local newspaper .I was very gratified when I came home the day after my ad came out in the local newspaper to find my answering machine chokka full of inquiries and requests of my housekeeping services and within days I was out working .I have also generated tutoring and freelance writing and editing opportunities through placing advertisements in papers so I know it does work.
Local Community Notice Boards and letter Box drops
These boards can be found in shopping centres , community venues , libraries etc .Often people needing help in the home requiring a cleaner or a handy man or similar will post an ad on their local community notice board and if you happen to be in the right place at the right time you might be fortunate to snaffle the position .
Another way to make use of community notice boards to find casual work is to be proactive in placing your own advertisement for the kind of services you would like to offer
Creating a pamphlet that advertises the services you offer can be a lot of fun and an empowering and affirming enterprise .These can be created as attractive posters to put up on local Community Notice Boards or in friendly local café windows .Similarly doing your own mail box drop with smaller brochures and pamphlets can be an effective way of letting the people in your local community know that you are available to walk their dogs, do their gardening or clean their cars etc .
Cold calling to cafes restaurants and hotels etc
The hospitality industry tends to rely on the ready availabilty of casual labour to keep its wheels turning and places like cafes and shops hotels etc will suddenly have casual vacancies they need to fill often at a days notice Be diligent also to look out for notices often appearing in shop windows cafes etc for casual staff Also if you are proactive in calling into these venues where you might like to work having a quick chat with the manager and leaving your resume with them it could well be that you may end up being in the right place at the right time and they may offer you something straight away or be the first face they remember when their waitress calls into say she can’t come into work anymore
The Gum Tree Advantage
Gumtree is a wonderful website which allows you a completely cost free opportunity to both browse for all sorts of casual work opportunities and also post your own advertisement to attract employment you would like to undertake.
The jobs on Gumtree are listed under two different categories E.g. business services and jobs . To browse these categories E.g. go to JOBS and a drop down menu will offer you a range of choices of category for the different job vacancies you can browse .You can also specify which particular locality you would like to find work in .
Or another option available to you on the Gumtree site is to post your own ad to find work .
Posting your own advertisement on Gumtree Employment Wanted section can be a powerful and effective means of advertising to a wider community say than your local community notice board as many people use this site daily.You click the link that allows you to post your own advertisement (free of charge )Click on either Business Services or Jobs to fill out a template which will enable you to list your advertisement showing the services you offer. Once you have filled out the template and sent it through within minutes your ad will probably appear on Gumtree able to be seen by thousands of people and within hours you could have people calling you in response to your ad clamouring for your services Way to go !!!
MARKET RESEARCH Cash in hand for your opinions
Market Research Companies offer people regular opportunities to take part in discussion groups on all manner of comsumer related topics and products and not only pay a really good hourly rate but are also easy cash in hand .There are a number of Market Research Companies throughout Melbourne .I have provided a list of well known ones but there may also be plenty of others .The idea is to register with these companies online by going to their websites and clicking on their registration link . Once registered if a survey comes up for which you might qualify as a participant they will contact you usually by email to ask you a few more qualifying questions and then possibly they invite you to come along to a designated discussion group .
These can be quite fun .You go along and sit around a table with other people usually from all walks of life .Refreshments like sandwiches and cold drinks coffee etc are provided and you are guided through a group discussion by a Market Research group leader .The groups usually go for 1 to 3 hours and can pay very generously up to $70.00 an hour cash in hand at the end of the discussion.
Note Something to be aware of is that each group has an obligation to its clients to vary its participants and therefore can only call you for a survey about once every 3 months .Therefore the idea is to register with a number of different Market Research Companies to increase your chances of being asked to participate in regular surveys .
Here is a list of possible Market Research Companies you can quickly register with online
Some I know of for Melbourne are
www.focuspeople.com.au
www.pmassociates.com.au
www.rtr.com.au
www.rewards4research.com.au
Sourcing FREELANCING AND CONTRACT WORK through ONLINE WEBSITES
The idea of working as a freelancer on contract can be very attractive as it often allows one to pick up work readily and easily enjoy flexible working hours and often allows you to work from home as well
The following websites
www.elance.com
www.guru.com
www.freelancer.com
www.odesk.com
are interesting and innovative web sites to check out for freelance work opportunities in the following categories writing and translation,illustration and design, Multimedia ,IT and programming,sales and marketing ,Admin Support ,Finance and management and Engineering and Manufacturing .
To give you an example of how these sites work
WWW.elance .com Invites freelancers to register and then once registered put together a freelance profile and an online portfolio that potential employers can browse.Also freelancers are invited to browse the available jobs coming online all the time . Literally hundreds of jobs are being posted all the time across a wide range of categories .The job specs usually indicate a time frame by which the freelancers responses need to be in and indicate the range of their budget the employer wishes to spend .Freelancers are invited to respond with proposals containing a letter of introduction and including their profiles and portfolios and a costs estimate .
Once the employer decides to go with a particular freelancer ,the two parties negotiate the terms of the contract and the employer pays up front although funds are held in escrow and only released to the freelancer once the agreed upon work has been completed .The freelancer at least has the guarantee of knowing the funds will be on hand to pay him / her and the website takes a commission from the freelancers wage . Milestones are discussed via an online workroom once the job is in progress.
A note of caution is that unfortunately as these sites are very competitive with vast numbers of proposals offered by freelancers competing for the work , fees for services offered by employers can be quite low .Recommend though the old adage ‘what you pay for is what you get’ can be quite relevant here .If you know you can provide an excellent service and can produce the goods an employer is looking for, recommend you stick to your guns in charging at a rate commensurate with what you know your services are worth.Some employers wil pass you by and go for the cheaper option but other employers are often relieved and gratified to find freelancers who can do the job well and are willing to reward competence and excellence with decent remuneration .
Community Markets
Most suburbs have regular produce craft or general markets which are always fun to go to and can offer income earning opportunities for entrepreneurial and creative self starters . Why not visit your local market and identify what niches might be there for products and services you particularly might have to offer.
It’s a good idea to Inquire about stall costs to determine the practicalities of quanities of items or services you need to sell in order to make clear profits to make your enterprise financially worthwhile
Sometimes the simplest of ideas can actually turn out to be the most lucrative.
Here are a few suggestions A lemonade stand ,Teas Coffees and Chai stand, catering and finger foods plants,second hand bric a brac and white elephants,books, handi crafts, art works (Consider Christmas markets when people are on the hunt for unique and individual gifts ) , imported and handmade jewellry ,face painting,mobile massage,portrait sketching ,tarot readings etc etc
Here is the opportunity to move on unused and unwanted items,flex some creative muscle , use skills and talents you normally don’t use in the day to day work force , wheel and deal and enjoy the fun and the thrill of making money through ingenuity and entrepreneurial flair and be involved in the social and community interaction being part of a regular market naturally involves
This just a few of the many online job websites you can browse through
You can also do a Google search to find dozens of specific industry online job search websites
JOBS FOR PEOPLE ON WORKING HOLIDAYS AND STUDY VISAS
habitathq .com.au is a wonderful site for people who are on working holidays or or travelling on study and working visas
habitathq.com.au and then click on the working holiday link on the top selection bar of the home page here you will find a wealth of information to assist and support you in making the most of your working holiday and finding causal and temporary work .
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As well as providing extensive lists of websites and agencies who specialize in casual temporary and seasonal recruitment . This site can help you learn all about your legal working holiday visa options and applications superannuation and taxation matters setting up bank accounts it also provides informationabout health care options for travellers embassy contact details and recommended English colleges etc
SOURCING CASUAL and TEMPORARY WORK through Agencies
Most of the agencies listed in the EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES section of this Directory offer temporary and casual work placements .
Some additional casual work websites to check out are as follows
tnt.downunder.com
globalgossip.com
bbmlive.com
CENTRELINK BENEFITS
Centrelink Benefits .if you are newly unemployed have been incapacitated or needing to take time out from paid employment you may be eligible for Centrelink Benefits provided by the national govts Dept of Human Services .Newstart is the Commonwealth Governments allowance for jobseeekers and unemployed persons and ranges from $400-600 per fortnight depending on age ,rental allowance component, casual earning s ,working credit points allocate fortnightly etc
When a person registers for Newstart Allowance one is automatically assigned to a conveniently located job service network provider who are government funded employment agencies provisioned to assist ther clients intheir job search enterprises .
Job search network providers can assist with training courses and job readiness workshops, preparation of resumes .They can assist with useful information for job search strategies and canvass to businesses for employment opportunities on your behalf.They can also assist with things like free photocopying ,use of computers and faxes and depending on which programme you are allocated to
Job Service Network providers often have funds available for initial back to work expenses and outlays like special clothing for interviews etc
It is always worth asking your job search network provider which particular programme or stream you are in and exactly how much money they have been allocated by the government to spend on you so that you can be proactive in putting forwards ideas and suggestions for how money available for your job search activities can be most profitably used eg recommending course which you feel might be useful especially if you are looking to realign and move into a different area of employment and need to do additional training.Your job search networker advisors may well have funds on hand to assist you with job training courses .
Also if you have been officially unemployed for sometime ,job service network providers may be able to offer prospective employers a generous wage subsidy if they are willing to employ you for 15 hours a week for 6 months .
The ‘ Linked in’ Advantage
Linked in is a business orientated social networking website that many people use for networking professionally and many employers swear by as a powerful job findng tool.The idea is that you register and fill in your profile page which includes information such as your education,past work history,current and past projects ,groups associations and more .You can also make oyur page public so that employers even those not registered with linked in can view it
The main purpose of linked in is to help people network professionally .Once oy have made contact with a business associate,a client or a colleague they then become part of your network and once you have conneted with a person you then have access to their list of connections and that person might also act to introduce you to their contacts if it may offer mutually beneficial potential for both parties .
You can also use ‘Linked in’ to post and search for jobs and to research details about employers and other business contacts for info that might stand you in good stead when approaching employers .
Many recruiters will look to Linked in to source potential candidates for positions they seek to fill and it will stand you in very good stead to have your profile on linked in particularly if you are looking for work in sales and marketing or recruiting and can demonstrate ease and facility with networking and creating contacts
Some tips for using linked in to maximum advantage include Make sure there is a happy overlap between who you are and what the company you are applying to actually need .Try to specifically address their particular job criterion requirements and clearly identify what specifically you bring to address those .
You have 120 characters to tell the world who you are and what value you bring so don’t just describe yourself in accordance with your job description but sell yourself in terms of identifying and stating with pride and clarity what specifically your particular fortes and gifts are that make you particularly a excellent candidate for consideration by an employer . Also adding a photo to your profile will increase your chances of a positive response from prospective employers.One recruitment consultant described Linked in as the most powerful job finding tool ever invented .
Support Organizations Which Offers Job Seekers Free and Ongoing Support in Their Job Search Enterprises
(1)
WIRES womens information and referral service ph 1300 1 34 130
New Address : 372 Spencer Street Melbourne Opening Hours 10.30am-5.pm
offers wonderful support for women in their job search enterprises .
They offer free use of computers everyday all day Monday to Friday
They offer regular weekly free individual computer instruction on any aspect of computer operations you wish to learn ,
Fortnightly Job Clubs a free fortnightly job and career club taught by professional career counsellors and human resource professional to help women with with formulating job search strategies identifying and overcoming barriers to finding employment ,optimalizing their resumes,interview techniques and strategies .etc
a collection of publications ready on hand pertaining to job search activities such as resume writng and interview techniques.
(2)
Fitted For Work FREE OUTFITS FOR JOB INTERVIEWS______
Level 2 535 Flinders Lane , Melbourne Phone Contact 96205533 ,[email protected]
As a not for profit organization the ‘ Fitted for Work’ mission is to help women present themselves at job interviews in their best possible light by providing FREE interview appropriate clothesand accessories
They offer women not only a personal dressing service but also can offer mentoring and run
Transition to Work programs .You can give them a call directly to find out about participating inobe of their programmes or you can ask for a referral to their centre also through your Job Services Network Provider
(3)
Melbourne Resumes www.melbourneresumes.com.au
This is a wonderful site which offers lots of free worthwhile online advice related to job search activities and career enhancement Although they do charge a fee for their face to face services such as resume preparation etc they also offer all sorts of free different resume sample templates form student through to executive resumes for you to browse through.There is 101 job Interview questions and answers and tips .They also provide really good information about how to use social media sites like ‘Linked In” to help further your career and increase your job search prospects.
(4)
Volunteer Work
If you have been out of work for a while you would just like to ease yourself back into the workforce in a less stressful way as you rediscover your confidence or you feel like contributing some energy to a worthwhile cause in the community ( which could even lead to future paid employment opportunities) you might consider Volunteer Work .Victoria has a very well structured and mobilized network and army of volunteer organizations you can find out more about which you can find out about through the following websites and phone numbers as listed below .
Volunteer work can help you feel part of something worthwhile and give you feelings of belonging ,joy and satisfaction in communicating with other volunteers and being of service to others .Ii can provide you with valuable work experience and help you develop and expand new talents and skills .It can give you valuable insights into how organizations work and are run and can look mighty fine on a resume also .Also it can give you contacts and inside information as to when a paid position in the organization you are working in might be coming up
www.govolunteer.com.au
www.volunteeringvictoria .com.au
www.volunteersearch.gov.au
General Career Information
If you are thinking of changing jobs and moving into a new career it might pay to do some research to update yourself on the constantly changing and rapidly expanding range of different employment opportunites you might not have even heard of .Here are some sites that can offer you updated information about the opportunites that are out there .
Job guide www.jobguide.dest.gov.au
Access to information on 600 occupations plus information on job searching apprenticeships traineeships education and training
My future www.myfuture.edu.au Information on occupations and course providers .’My guide’ section has guided activities to help people explore career options .
Australian apprenticeships: www.australianapprencticeships.gov.au
Tertiary study
Perhaps you are thinking about undertaking further studies to upgrade your skills and qualifications to advance in your current career or make a transition into a new field of employment Here are a few websites that might help to provide you with handy information
Victorian tertiary admissions centre www.vtac.edu.au in applying for tertiary courses
Short courses Victoria www.short courses.vic.gov.au search for short courses and and course providers
TAFE courses directory www.Tafe.vic.gov.au
Australian Apprenticeships Training information Service www.aatinfo.com.au
Going to uni : www.going touni .gov .au
Distance Education Open universities in Australia course and individual studies through external studies www.open.edu.au
TAFE Virtual campus www .tafevc.com.au-Online tafe learning modules and courses
Universities
Here is a list of Melbourne based Universities and their websites
Deakin University www.deakin.edu.au
La Trobe University www.latrobe.edu.au
Monash University www.monash.edu.au
RMIT University www.rmit.edu.au
Swinburne University of technology www.swineburne.edu.au
University of melbourne www.unimelb.com.au
Victoria University www.vu.edu.au
Australian catholic university www.acu.edu.au
Universities with Tafe Divisions
RMIT www.rmit.edu.au/programmes /types/tafe
Swinburne www.tafe.swin.edu.au
Victoria University www.vu.edu.au/tafe
THE EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES DIRECTORY helping you find work
A Resource Guide For Job Hunting And Sourcing Employment Opportunities
Introduction Looking for work as in any enterprise in life it is important to approach looking for work with a positive mind set and plenty of self confidence with a firm belief in the wonderful personal qualities you have to contribute to any company or organization lucky enough to hire you
I believe we attract lovely opportunities to ourselves including fantastic employment opportunies when we hold our vision still with faith and positive intentions about what we are asking the Universe for . I believe that we come better magnets for attracting work opportunities that engage and fulfil us when we believe we can absolutely have the type of work we are looking for and when we assume that it is not only are you absolutely worthy and deserving of working at your ideal job but it is actually good plain old logical common sense that you are naturally meant for the type of work you are seeking .
I found over the years in attracting the right job opportunities it was important to keep ones focus on thinking about how one can contribute and the value you can add to the world and the community with the sharing and flowing of your particular and unique combination of skills and talents gifts fortes and personality rather than coming form a viewpoint of a desperate bid to grab any sort of job to earn money .While we can all certainly relate to that feeling of panic and desperation about needing money to pay bills and the pain and frustration some of us go through in looking for work it is important to centre yourself in the consideration of your strengths and attributes that you have to offer an employer first and foremost to become a successful magnet for work opportunities
Such thinking I believe is more likely to generate interesting and worthwhile employment opportunities that you feel engaged in and good about which not only nourish the bank balance but also the soul and the spirit.Perhaps the luckiest people in the world are those who are employed in fields and jobs which are a direct reflection and in complete alignment with their goals and values and visions for what they would like most to contribute to the world.This is why perhaps I am sure people who work for Creativity Australia feel so good about getting up to go to work each morning .
Perhaps this sense of being aligned to working in a job with purpose and meaning is more about natural vocation than just a job and when you are in the flow of being involved in and passionate about those things in life you most care about doing is when you are most magnetic to fantastic job opportunites .
Also goal setting is very important and being very clear about the type of work you would like to be doing and the field you would like to be working in ,the type of position you seek to hold and the type of salary you would like to be earning and a time frame by which you intend to have attracted an employment opportunity .
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Also after you believe you have done everything possible to create an employment opportunity and open up the channels for work to come to you to also surrender to the process ,Believing that the Universe is on your side and if you have absolutely done your part God/Goddess the Universe will also do its part
Fortune Favours the Bold
For the more entreprenereal self starters with the gift of the gab A maverick approach might yield rich dividends for you if you might go cold calling boldly approaching those employers you might like to work for who you believe absolutely need your skills and talents .You might call by their office and ask to speak to the Managing Director or the CEO if he/she has a spare minute and an ear to lend you.
In my bold intrepid and fearless younger years when I had taken a break from teaching to pursue a freelance writing career I loved writing stories for children but feeling the money was in technical writing once rocked up to a heavy industry PR agency with my little compendium of handwritten fairy stories (that’s right folks they weren’t even typed) and asked to speak to the Managing Director .I recall as I talked to the guy whose name was Peter telling him I was looking for writing work the guy sitting with his feet up on his desk looking at my stories with great amusement .My style wasn’t quite what he was looking for in his stable of technical writers but it turned out he was a closet railway modeller and he put out a railway modelling magazine and I walked out of his office that afternoon with a writing assignment on miniature railway modeling worth several thousand dollars .So fortune it seems does indeed favour the bold .
Employment Agencies
There are hundreds of Employment Agencies throughout Melbourne .Some of the larger agencies will have their head offices in metropolitan Melbourne and smaller branch offices in the suburbs .You can either search in the local Telstra Yellow Pages Metropolitan Directory or your local yellow pages Directory to find a list of employment agencies in your area you can approach.You can also google the Telstra yellow pages online to find the same information.
These employment agencies may specialize in particular professional placements eg accounting teaching nursing etc ,or general office admin or hospitality skilled and unskilled labour etc .The Agencies may deal only infinding permanent job placements for people or they also have a casual and temporary employment division which can also offer casual and temporary work opportunities while you are waiting for a permanent job or which you might even prefer to a permanent placement
Once you have successfully located an agency which is a good match for the kind of work you would like to fiind ,an agency will be happy to talk to you because agencies earn commissions and their business actually depends on placing people in jobs .Once an agent has determined that you are a good prospective candidate for work they can become a most useful and effective ally in helping you find work .
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An agency can promote you to employers who regularly use their services and agents can have access to information about positions not advertised through more public channels They can submit your resume to several different employers at a time .An agent can help you taylor your resume to suit the position you are applying for .They can help prep you for interviews and give you moral support and useful feedback after an interview.Remember theagency gets paid when you get a job so it is in their interests to be proactive in supporting you in your job search enterprises
EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
(1) Hays recruitment www.hays.com.au Head office Ph 96049600
A very large agency has dozens of offices throughout Victoria located in Melbourne CBD
Camberwell, Geelong and Mulgrave Perhaps ring their head office to get details of the office
located nearest to you that caters to the type of employment you are specifically looking for
Offers both permanent and temporary job placements
(2) Manpower www.manpower.com.au Melbourne Office Ph 86334000
Has offices in Melbourne Preston Laverton and Mt Waverly
Offers both permanent and temporary job placements
(3) Julia Ross www.juliaross.com Head Office ph 86208200
IT Recruitment Division Ph 86291100 Specialist Recruitment Division Ph 86291100
Has 2 Melbourne based offices
Offers permanent and temporary job placements
(4) Adecco www.adecco.com.au Head Office ph 99542100
Places 8000 temporary employees with 3000 clients across Australia each day.So definately one to checkout if you are seeking temporary or casual employment .
Has offices in Melbourne ph 99542400 , Clayton 95621325 , Blackburn 92989677
Derrimuta 92015150 and Laverton 93606100
Offers permanent and temporary job placements
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JOB SEARCHING WESITES
Job searching websites .Another popular and easy way to source job vacancies is through online employment agencies .These usually will list the jobs in different categories and regions which you need to specify as you commence your search .The listed ads have links to fuller job specs and descriptions which usually will either refer you a website for more information about the vacancy or give you details about the job including the specific criterion they wish you to address before giving you the option to apply for the job online .Applying for the job online usually requires you to upload a cover letter and a resume .It is advisable to read the job advertisement extremely carefully a couple of times and make a point in your cover letter of specifically addressing the job criterion they have outlined as being particularly important in the position .Make sure you indicate to the prospective employer what skills and experience you can bring to the position which specifically addresses the particular job criterion they have outlined . Also scanning in your references so you upload these as part of your resume will give the employers extra information about you that might give you the edge in being considered for the job you are applying for .Usually these sites will send you an email to assure you the your job application has been forwarded onto the employer .
Take note of the employers name and phone number too so that you can make direct contact if you need to check on the progress of your application.
Here is a list of Job Searching Websites
www.seek.com.au www.mycareer.com.au
www.careerone.com.au www.jobsearch.com.au
www.jobs.vic.gov.au www.jobs.com.au
www.daywork.com.au www.alljobs.com.au
www.infoxchange.net.au www.pathwaysaustralia.com.au
www.ethicaljobs.com.au www.reedglobal.com
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CASUAL WORK OPPORTUNITIES
The following section of this guide focuses on the many opportunites and possibilities to consider when looking for casual and temporary work
The really great thing about casual work is that it can be something you can pick up readily which can pay cash in hand with flexible working hours .Casual work can offer you the opportunity toy to explore and develop these skills and talents and even possibly eventually turn your hobbies fortes and passions into lucrative business opportunites
In thinking about exploring the casual job market think about marrying your particular skillsand talents interests and fortes to the services lot of people are seeking on an everyday basis
Here are some suggestions of services people are always in need of g : Chidcare, nannying, companion to an elderly person,house keeping and house cleaning,pool cleaning,car cleaning and detailing,dog walking.pet sitting and house sitting ,gardening and handyman work ,rubbish removal etc ,catering ,book keeping and typing skills children’s birthday party entertainment etc etc .
These are the sorts of jobs you can pick up at a moments notice if you know where to look and be paid cash in hand within days of starting work
So where does one go to look for and generate these sorts of possibilities
Here are some suggestions
Newspapers Metropolitan Local and Community newspapers
Casual Work Opportunites will be advertised in larger Metropolitan newspapers in the Casual Work Sections .
Casual Job Vacancies may also be advertised in the Employment Sections of the smaller local and Community Newspapers . The latter can be a particularly rich source of casual work opportunity .
Placing your own advertisement
Another way to source casual work through newspapers is to be proactive in placing your own advertisement in local newspapers in the WORK WANTED or CLASSIFIED sections under the headings relevant to the work you are seeking e.g .childcare, cleaning,handyman services .
Lodging your own Ad in a Local Community Newspaper in the can be a very effective and powerful way of generating casual work opportunites for yourself . The financial outlay for these advertisements can be quite reasonable and yield rich dividends in casual work opportunities for you . Usually when paying for your Advertisement you can get a package deal with local newspaper offices whereby you can run your ad for a whole month for a discounted price . Page 6 It pays to be savvy about how you might make your ad stand out or catch the readers eye over other ads.One way to generate a readers attention to your ad first is to word your advertisement so that it appears at the top of an alphabetical listing , or you might pay a few extra dollars for underlining a heading in bold etc and specify clearly the service you are offering .Keeping the ad positive and upbeat will help generate a successful result for you and you could be out working within days of people reading your advertisement.
Years ago in Sydney I decided to take a break from teaching but needed to earn some income so I decided to undertake to do some housekeeping and duly put an ad in my local newspaper .I was very gratified when I came home the day after my ad came out in the local newspaper to find my answering machine chokka full of inquiries and requests of my housekeeping services and within days I was out working .I have also generated tutoring and freelance writing and editing opportunities through placing advertisements in papers so I know it does work.
Local Community Notice Boards and letter Box drops
These boards can be found in shopping centres , community venues , libraries etc .Often people needing help in the home requiring a cleaner or a handy man or similar will post an ad on their local community notice board and if you happen to be in the right place at the right time you might be fortunate to snaffle the position .
Another way to make use of community notice boards to find casual work is to be proactive in placing your own advertisement for the kind of services you would like to offer
Creating a pamphlet that advertises the services you offer can be a lot of fun and an empowering and affirming enterprise .These can be created as attractive posters to put up on local Community Notice Boards or in friendly local café windows .Similarly doing your own mail box drop with smaller brochures and pamphlets can be an effective way of letting the people in your local community know that you are available to walk their dogs, do their gardening or clean their cars etc .
Cold calling to cafes restaurants and hotels etc
The hospitality industry tends to rely on the ready availabilty of casual labour to keep its wheels turning and places like cafes and shops hotels etc will suddenly have casual vacancies they need to fill often at a days notice Be diligent also to look out for notices often appearing in shop windows cafes etc for casual staff Also if you are proactive in calling into these venues where you might like to work having a quick chat with the manager and leaving your resume with them it could well be that you may end up being in the right place at the right time and they may offer you something straight away or be the first face they remember when their waitress calls into say she can’t come into work anymore
The Gum Tree Advantage
Gumtree is a wonderful website which allows you a completely cost free opportunity to both browse for all sorts of casual work opportunities and also post your own advertisement to attract employment you would like to undertake.
The jobs on Gumtree are listed under two different categories E.g. business services and jobs . To browse these categories E.g. go to JOBS and a drop down menu will offer you a range of choices of category for the different job vacancies you can browse .You can also specify which particular locality you would like to find work in .
Or another option available to you on the Gumtree site is to post your own ad to find work .
Posting your own advertisement on Gumtree Employment Wanted section can be a powerful and effective means of advertising to a wider community say than your local community notice board as many people use this site daily.You click the link that allows you to post your own advertisement (free of charge )Click on either Business Services or Jobs to fill out a template which will enable you to list your advertisement showing the services you offer. Once you have filled out the template and sent it through within minutes your ad will probably appear on Gumtree able to be seen by thousands of people and within hours you could have people calling you in response to your ad clamouring for your services Way to go !!!
MARKET RESEARCH Cash in hand for your opinions
Market Research Companies offer people regular opportunities to take part in discussion groups on all manner of comsumer related topics and products and not only pay a really good hourly rate but are also easy cash in hand .There are a number of Market Research Companies throughout Melbourne .I have provided a list of well known ones but there may also be plenty of others .The idea is to register with these companies online by going to their websites and clicking on their registration link . Once registered if a survey comes up for which you might qualify as a participant they will contact you usually by email to ask you a few more qualifying questions and then possibly they invite you to come along to a designated discussion group .
These can be quite fun .You go along and sit around a table with other people usually from all walks of life .Refreshments like sandwiches and cold drinks coffee etc are provided and you are guided through a group discussion by a Market Research group leader .The groups usually go for 1 to 3 hours and can pay very generously up to $70.00 an hour cash in hand at the end of the discussion.
Note Something to be aware of is that each group has an obligation to its clients to vary its participants and therefore can only call you for a survey about once every 3 months .Therefore the idea is to register with a number of different Market Research Companies to increase your chances of being asked to participate in regular surveys .
Here is a list of possible Market Research Companies you can quickly register with online
Some I know of for Melbourne are
www.focuspeople.com.au
www.pmassociates.com.au
www.rtr.com.au
www.rewards4research.com.au
Sourcing FREELANCING AND CONTRACT WORK through ONLINE WEBSITES
The idea of working as a freelancer on contract can be very attractive as it often allows one to pick up work readily and easily enjoy flexible working hours and often allows you to work from home as well
The following websites
www.elance.com
www.guru.com
www.freelancer.com
www.odesk.com
are interesting and innovative web sites to check out for freelance work opportunities in the following categories writing and translation,illustration and design, Multimedia ,IT and programming,sales and marketing ,Admin Support ,Finance and management and Engineering and Manufacturing .
To give you an example of how these sites work
WWW.elance .com Invites freelancers to register and then once registered put together a freelance profile and an online portfolio that potential employers can browse.Also freelancers are invited to browse the available jobs coming online all the time . Literally hundreds of jobs are being posted all the time across a wide range of categories .The job specs usually indicate a time frame by which the freelancers responses need to be in and indicate the range of their budget the employer wishes to spend .Freelancers are invited to respond with proposals containing a letter of introduction and including their profiles and portfolios and a costs estimate .
Once the employer decides to go with a particular freelancer ,the two parties negotiate the terms of the contract and the employer pays up front although funds are held in escrow and only released to the freelancer once the agreed upon work has been completed .The freelancer at least has the guarantee of knowing the funds will be on hand to pay him / her and the website takes a commission from the freelancers wage . Milestones are discussed via an online workroom once the job is in progress.
A note of caution is that unfortunately as these sites are very competitive with vast numbers of proposals offered by freelancers competing for the work , fees for services offered by employers can be quite low .Recommend though the old adage ‘what you pay for is what you get’ can be quite relevant here .If you know you can provide an excellent service and can produce the goods an employer is looking for, recommend you stick to your guns in charging at a rate commensurate with what you know your services are worth.Some employers wil pass you by and go for the cheaper option but other employers are often relieved and gratified to find freelancers who can do the job well and are willing to reward competence and excellence with decent remuneration .
Community Markets
Most suburbs have regular produce craft or general markets which are always fun to go to and can offer income earning opportunities for entrepreneurial and creative self starters . Why not visit your local market and identify what niches might be there for products and services you particularly might have to offer.
It’s a good idea to Inquire about stall costs to determine the practicalities of quanities of items or services you need to sell in order to make clear profits to make your enterprise financially worthwhile
Sometimes the simplest of ideas can actually turn out to be the most lucrative.
Here are a few suggestions A lemonade stand ,Teas Coffees and Chai stand, catering and finger foods plants,second hand bric a brac and white elephants,books, handi crafts, art works (Consider Christmas markets when people are on the hunt for unique and individual gifts ) , imported and handmade jewellry ,face painting,mobile massage,portrait sketching ,tarot readings etc etc
Here is the opportunity to move on unused and unwanted items,flex some creative muscle , use skills and talents you normally don’t use in the day to day work force , wheel and deal and enjoy the fun and the thrill of making money through ingenuity and entrepreneurial flair and be involved in the social and community interaction being part of a regular market naturally involves
This just a few of the many online job websites you can browse through
You can also do a Google search to find dozens of specific industry online job search websites
JOBS FOR PEOPLE ON WORKING HOLIDAYS AND STUDY VISAS
habitathq .com.au is a wonderful site for people who are on working holidays or or travelling on study and working visas
habitathq.com.au and then click on the working holiday link on the top selection bar of the home page here you will find a wealth of information to assist and support you in making the most of your working holiday and finding causal and temporary work .
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As well as providing extensive lists of websites and agencies who specialize in casual temporary and seasonal recruitment . This site can help you learn all about your legal working holiday visa options and applications superannuation and taxation matters setting up bank accounts it also provides informationabout health care options for travellers embassy contact details and recommended English colleges etc
SOURCING CASUAL and TEMPORARY WORK through Agencies
Most of the agencies listed in the EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES section of this Directory offer temporary and casual work placements .
Some additional casual work websites to check out are as follows
tnt.downunder.com
globalgossip.com
bbmlive.com
CENTRELINK BENEFITS
Centrelink Benefits .if you are newly unemployed have been incapacitated or needing to take time out from paid employment you may be eligible for Centrelink Benefits provided by the national govts Dept of Human Services .Newstart is the Commonwealth Governments allowance for jobseeekers and unemployed persons and ranges from $400-600 per fortnight depending on age ,rental allowance component, casual earning s ,working credit points allocate fortnightly etc
When a person registers for Newstart Allowance one is automatically assigned to a conveniently located job service network provider who are government funded employment agencies provisioned to assist ther clients intheir job search enterprises .
Job search network providers can assist with training courses and job readiness workshops, preparation of resumes .They can assist with useful information for job search strategies and canvass to businesses for employment opportunities on your behalf.They can also assist with things like free photocopying ,use of computers and faxes and depending on which programme you are allocated to
Job Service Network providers often have funds available for initial back to work expenses and outlays like special clothing for interviews etc
It is always worth asking your job search network provider which particular programme or stream you are in and exactly how much money they have been allocated by the government to spend on you so that you can be proactive in putting forwards ideas and suggestions for how money available for your job search activities can be most profitably used eg recommending course which you feel might be useful especially if you are looking to realign and move into a different area of employment and need to do additional training.Your job search networker advisors may well have funds on hand to assist you with job training courses .
Also if you have been officially unemployed for sometime ,job service network providers may be able to offer prospective employers a generous wage subsidy if they are willing to employ you for 15 hours a week for 6 months .
The ‘ Linked in’ Advantage
Linked in is a business orientated social networking website that many people use for networking professionally and many employers swear by as a powerful job findng tool.The idea is that you register and fill in your profile page which includes information such as your education,past work history,current and past projects ,groups associations and more .You can also make oyur page public so that employers even those not registered with linked in can view it
The main purpose of linked in is to help people network professionally .Once oy have made contact with a business associate,a client or a colleague they then become part of your network and once you have conneted with a person you then have access to their list of connections and that person might also act to introduce you to their contacts if it may offer mutually beneficial potential for both parties .
You can also use ‘Linked in’ to post and search for jobs and to research details about employers and other business contacts for info that might stand you in good stead when approaching employers .
Many recruiters will look to Linked in to source potential candidates for positions they seek to fill and it will stand you in very good stead to have your profile on linked in particularly if you are looking for work in sales and marketing or recruiting and can demonstrate ease and facility with networking and creating contacts
Some tips for using linked in to maximum advantage include Make sure there is a happy overlap between who you are and what the company you are applying to actually need .Try to specifically address their particular job criterion requirements and clearly identify what specifically you bring to address those .
You have 120 characters to tell the world who you are and what value you bring so don’t just describe yourself in accordance with your job description but sell yourself in terms of identifying and stating with pride and clarity what specifically your particular fortes and gifts are that make you particularly a excellent candidate for consideration by an employer . Also adding a photo to your profile will increase your chances of a positive response from prospective employers.One recruitment consultant described Linked in as the most powerful job finding tool ever invented .
Support Organizations Which Offers Job Seekers Free and Ongoing Support in Their Job Search Enterprises
(1)
WIRES womens information and referral service ph 1300 1 34 130
New Address : 372 Spencer Street Melbourne Opening Hours 10.30am-5.pm
offers wonderful support for women in their job search enterprises .
They offer free use of computers everyday all day Monday to Friday
They offer regular weekly free individual computer instruction on any aspect of computer operations you wish to learn ,
Fortnightly Job Clubs a free fortnightly job and career club taught by professional career counsellors and human resource professional to help women with with formulating job search strategies identifying and overcoming barriers to finding employment ,optimalizing their resumes,interview techniques and strategies .etc
a collection of publications ready on hand pertaining to job search activities such as resume writng and interview techniques.
(2)
Fitted For Work FREE OUTFITS FOR JOB INTERVIEWS______
Level 2 535 Flinders Lane , Melbourne Phone Contact 96205533 ,[email protected]
As a not for profit organization the ‘ Fitted for Work’ mission is to help women present themselves at job interviews in their best possible light by providing FREE interview appropriate clothesand accessories
They offer women not only a personal dressing service but also can offer mentoring and run
Transition to Work programs .You can give them a call directly to find out about participating inobe of their programmes or you can ask for a referral to their centre also through your Job Services Network Provider
(3)
Melbourne Resumes www.melbourneresumes.com.au
This is a wonderful site which offers lots of free worthwhile online advice related to job search activities and career enhancement Although they do charge a fee for their face to face services such as resume preparation etc they also offer all sorts of free different resume sample templates form student through to executive resumes for you to browse through.There is 101 job Interview questions and answers and tips .They also provide really good information about how to use social media sites like ‘Linked In” to help further your career and increase your job search prospects.
(4)
Volunteer Work
If you have been out of work for a while you would just like to ease yourself back into the workforce in a less stressful way as you rediscover your confidence or you feel like contributing some energy to a worthwhile cause in the community ( which could even lead to future paid employment opportunities) you might consider Volunteer Work .Victoria has a very well structured and mobilized network and army of volunteer organizations you can find out more about which you can find out about through the following websites and phone numbers as listed below .
Volunteer work can help you feel part of something worthwhile and give you feelings of belonging ,joy and satisfaction in communicating with other volunteers and being of service to others .Ii can provide you with valuable work experience and help you develop and expand new talents and skills .It can give you valuable insights into how organizations work and are run and can look mighty fine on a resume also .Also it can give you contacts and inside information as to when a paid position in the organization you are working in might be coming up
www.govolunteer.com.au
www.volunteeringvictoria .com.au
www.volunteersearch.gov.au
General Career Information
If you are thinking of changing jobs and moving into a new career it might pay to do some research to update yourself on the constantly changing and rapidly expanding range of different employment opportunites you might not have even heard of .Here are some sites that can offer you updated information about the opportunites that are out there .
Job guide www.jobguide.dest.gov.au
Access to information on 600 occupations plus information on job searching apprenticeships traineeships education and training
My future www.myfuture.edu.au Information on occupations and course providers .’My guide’ section has guided activities to help people explore career options .
Australian apprenticeships: www.australianapprencticeships.gov.au
Tertiary study
Perhaps you are thinking about undertaking further studies to upgrade your skills and qualifications to advance in your current career or make a transition into a new field of employment Here are a few websites that might help to provide you with handy information
Victorian tertiary admissions centre www.vtac.edu.au in applying for tertiary courses
Short courses Victoria www.short courses.vic.gov.au search for short courses and and course providers
TAFE courses directory www.Tafe.vic.gov.au
Australian Apprenticeships Training information Service www.aatinfo.com.au
Going to uni : www.going touni .gov .au
Distance Education Open universities in Australia course and individual studies through external studies www.open.edu.au
TAFE Virtual campus www .tafevc.com.au-Online tafe learning modules and courses
Universities
Here is a list of Melbourne based Universities and their websites
Deakin University www.deakin.edu.au
La Trobe University www.latrobe.edu.au
Monash University www.monash.edu.au
RMIT University www.rmit.edu.au
Swinburne University of technology www.swineburne.edu.au
University of melbourne www.unimelb.com.au
Victoria University www.vu.edu.au
Australian catholic university www.acu.edu.au
Universities with Tafe Divisions
RMIT www.rmit.edu.au/programmes /types/tafe
Swinburne www.tafe.swin.edu.au
Victoria University www.vu.edu.au/tafe