Focus on Employment
Only a lucky few get jobs off the web straight away; most don’t! So get the word out that you’re job hunting. Use your networks – friends, family, neighbours, fellow graduates, team mates, church goers…. A large number of jobs in New Zealand are not formally advertised.
Focus on your visibility
Offer to do work experience for an organization you’d like to work for – if they say no, try the next one on your list. Access professional associations and industry organisations to broaden your job search and find out who is hiring. Ask yourself whether you’re aiming too high – or low?
 Work
Readiness Don't underestimate the importance of work
experience and part time work. An ‘A’ graduate without any
work history is a bigger risk to an employer sometimes than
a ‘B+’ graduate who has juggled a part time job and study and
has good references to prove reliability etc.
CV and Cover Letter
Your CV and cover letter are vital job search tools, so get help with them. Tertiary career services offer advice with CVs, cover letters, interview techniques and career decision making. There are plenty of books - Write Your Own CV; A New Zealand Guide - and informative websites - Seek, NZUniCareerHub (tertiary students only) and Career Services.
Focus on the Employer
CVs and cover letters must change with every job you apply for. Yep, they must. Attaching hundreds of generic CVs to job advertisements is not the way to land a job.
Focus your CV on the job and organisation. Employers want to feel that You really Want to work for Them. Sound like hard work? It does become easier! Start by creating a copy of your current CV in a new document. Now tweak….
- Check your CV against the job description.
- Underline all the skills and experience that make you perfect for the job.
- Put that information into your Summary of Skills if it’s
not there already. Remember this section highlights your relevant achievements, skills and qualities for the job.
- What about your Work History section? How well have you highlighted
achievements and responsibilities? Could something be reworded
to better highlight how well you fit the job description?
- How about your Tertiary Education section? Any course that would
be important to mention? Not something you did at primary school,
though!
- Check your Career Goal or Personal Statement – do you highlight
or express appropriate goals for this job?
- Look at Interests? Anything you can genuinely add to highlight
your job ‘fit’?
Other Tips
Your CV must be professional looking and no longer than 2-4 pages for Kiwi employers. Always, always get someone to proofread for grammatical and layout mistakes.
Don’t forget to include referees; people that will vouch for you from an employment
and/or academic viewpoint. Always ask people first if they want to be a referee.
Then keep them informed.
Focus those letters!
A cover letter should accompany every CV. Again you take the bones of a generic letter, then individualise. The cover letter gives you a chance to explain how your work history ‘fits’ and should strongly emphasise your enthusiasm about the role, your interest in the company and your wonderful personality. Over a page and you’re probably rambling….
Interview Focus
Background Prep
Read websites and company brochures to discover as much as you can about the role and company. Always double check the time, location and interviewer’s name. Work out how long it will take to get to your interview; then get there early.
Front Up
Don’t smell of cigarettes! Don't chew gum. Dress conservatively – take out the eyebrow ring. Greet people with a firm handshake and introduce yourself clearly. Listen to the whole question before you answer. Smile when you can. Speak clearly and properly.
 Be Careful! Facebook and MySpace could spell disaster to your application if a potential employer checks them – and some do. Will your current profile haunt you later?
Be Real
Be enthusiastic about the job without being over the top. If you don't understand a question, politely ask them to repeat it. If you don’t have a skill they ask about, admit it but say you’re keen to gain it. Show commitment to them by asking about the job and organisation. After all, you’re interviewing them too.
Employers love enthusiasm, self motivation, strong verbal and written communication skills, flexibility, problem solving and critical thinking ability. They want team and leadership qualities. Focus on those!
Interview Practice
Practice answers to questions like;
- Why would you be good at this job?
- What are your strengths?
- Examples that reflect those strengths
- What are your weaknesses (don’t bare your soul)?
- Tell us about a time when… and how you dealt with it (give real life examples showing your skills and knowledge)
- Why do you want to work for that company/organisation?
- What can you offer us?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
NB: Prepare questions to ask. Thumbs up to questions about
professional development and orientation; thumbs down to salary,
holidays and freebies questions.
Assessments
Often graduates undergo psychometric assessments, designed to assess
your personality fit within the organisation, or your aptitude
in key areas such as conceptual thinking or numerical reasoning.
Conquer your fear by practising with sample exercises on websites; www.opragroup.com or www.shl.com/SHL.
Focus on Success
Landing a job is incredibly satisfying. Look over the contract
carefully to check starting dates, pay and other considerations
and return signed within the agreed time.
Do make sure you withdraw job applications you may have elsewhere.
It is important to stay on side with other employers; you never know when you’ll be meeting them again.
Refocus
You got turned down. Damn, but think of it as a learning experience. Find the confidence to call and ask for feedback. Many employers are happy to give feedback to help you refocus. Job hunting takes time and practice makes perfect.
Alternative Business Focus
How about setting up your own business? To succeed, you need a good idea backed up by a formal business plan, capital and research proving you’re providing something desirable.
Many great businesses have risen out of offering something new or improved; think of Sam Morgan and Trade Me.
Pass it by experts; an accountant, a lawyer, an industry expert.
Universities have business incubators or hot houses for promising student ideas. NZ Trade & Enterprise has some great schemes that support small businesses. Also check out Franchise New Zealand, Inland Revenue and Homebizbuzz.
Remember – it has to be unique or an improved version of something already available.
 
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