Free Resume Advice For Job Seekers

Research has shown that in order to produce a high quality application addressing selection criteria (five or six per application) requires up to eight solid nights work, up to two to three hours per night! That’s quite the process and daunting for the majority of individuals. You will be relieved to know that the process of writing and addressing selection criteria is changing – it’s becoming a shorter more refined process. It is not unusual now to be asked to prepare a two page statement or synopsis addressing a few key criteria or points; you can be asked to adhere to a word count for each criterion, for example, maximum word count of 200. The days of addressing selection criteria requiring up to one page in length is dying, although there are still applications requiring this quantity. When addressing selection criteria it is very important to write clearly and logically. There a two key techniques or rules you can follow which will make the selection criteria process simpler for you and help you write concisely.

The most commonly applied method is the STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) technique. First, what was the SITUATION? Start by providing an example of a situation where you have demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills or abilities outlined in the particular selection criterion. Second, what was the TASK? Outline the task undertaken and other responsibilities in this particular situation. Third, what ACTION/S did you take to achieve the tasks? What skills, knowledge and abilities did you use? Be specific and provide detail of what you do or did. Finally, what RESULTED from the action/s you undertook? What was the outcome (positive) of doing the above? This can be any positive outcome or result relating to you, the team, the customer, the organisation, and so forth.

The Claims-Evidence-Benefit rule is a variant of the STAR method and can simplify the process to a degree. First, you make the claim, for example: ‘my written communication skills are of a very high level’. Second, you back this up with evidence and state what areas you excel in written communication skills, for example, complex report writing, university assignment writing, and so forth. Finally, state how your written communication skills have been of benefit, the positive outcomes that have ensued as a result, and so forth.

The important thing to remember when addressing selection criteria is to provide specific concrete demonstrable examples that show how you meet the criteria. ‘Philosophical’ statements will get you no where without the backup. If you are going to make these types of statements keep them short (one to two sentences only) and incorporate them either at the beginning or the end of each criterion. Also, once you have written and addressed selection criteria applying the technique or rule outlined above, you will have a solid template from which to work from when addressing future criteria. Sure, selection criteria will differ for other positions, but the process remains the same and you can apply this to each subsequent application that you develop and prepare.

Remember, I’m here to help market you in the best possible manner.

Cheers,

Annie Cerone

On March the 6th and 7th 2009, Brisbane will be hosting a major career expo focusing primarily on mature-aged individuals over the age of 35 considering a career change. Featured exhibitors will include the Brisbane City Council, Woolworths, CareerOne, the Australian Taxation Office, Defence Force Recruiting, Flight Centre and Bunnings. In light of current economic conditions, statistics have shown that the skills shortage will remain unchanged over the long term. Moreover, the ABS has revealed that by 2016, more than 80% of labour force growth will be among workers over 45. The onus is now on employers to target this group in order to fill roles when the shortage returns.

This would be a great opportunity for those of you considering a career change.

Cheers,

Annie Cerone

Keep the following three rules in mind during the job interview process. These rules have been researched and statistically validated.

1. Apply the ‘50/50’ rule: Listen for 50% of the time and talk for the rest. Research has shown that applicants who apply this rule have been the most successful in getting to the next stage of the interview process or being offered the position.

2. Apply the ‘2-minute’ rule: Talk for only 2 minutes at any one time. The key when talking and answering questions during the job interview is to keep your answers concise and to the point. Try not to waffle or go off on a tangent. When providing examples of what you have done in the past or what you would do in the future when faced with a certain situation, give one, at the most two clearly defined examples.

3. Apply the ‘now-focused’ rule: Stay present oriented, do not think about the future or past. It is easy to be thinking about what might happen – the ‘what if’ thoughts that enter your mind that have not happened. It is pointless to be thinking about anything else but the present moment you are in. Ironically, if you are thinking about ‘what if’ thoughts, your subconscious will bring you those things you are thinking about. Interrupting your negative thought patterns is one of the most powerful secrets used by highly successful people. Staying in the ‘now’ during the interview will help your mindset stay positive.

Remember, it’s all about marketing you!

Cheers,

Annie cerone

Following on from last week’s blog on the current Australian job market, let’s look at the shortages within the professions first up. Regardless of current job market conditions, the demand for accountants is outstripping supply on a local, national and global level. The shortage of accountants in Australia is reaching critical level. There is a continuing gap between the supply of domestic accounting graduates and employer demand in Australia. There is also an acute skills shortage in the design professions. These professions include engineers, quantity surveyors, planners, landscape architects. Finally, there is a critical shortfall in professional engineers. Engineers Australia chief executive Peter Taylor states that there is an estimated shortfall of more than 20,000 professional engineers to meet current demand in Australia. Australian universities continue to produce fewer than 6,000 graduates each year. Herein lies a further skills shortage as Taylor asserts that there are not enough teachers with tertiary qualifications in mathematics or science to enable the engineering students to get enthused about and qualified for engineering tertiary studies. Hence, a lack of qualified teachers in these areas.
 
Let’s now look at the skills shortage across the board. Many Australian industries are suffering from a shortage of skilled workers, from automotive and electrical trades to IT and finance. The following is a list of skill shortage areas:

Aged Care

Automotive Electrician

Automotive Vehicle Body – Panel Beater

Automotive Vehicle Body – Vehicle Painter

Automotive Vehicle Body – Vehicle Trimmer Carpenter

Baker/Pastry Chef

Chef/Cook

Children’s Services

Civil Engineering

Community Services

Engineering – Fabrication

Electrical Engineer

Electrician (including electrical wiring)

Electronics

Engineering Tradesperson – Mechanical

Fire Protection

Financial Services

Hairdresser

Information Technology

Electrotechnology Instrumentation Tradesperson

Joiner

Light Vehicle Motor Mechanic

Nurse

Plumber

Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Wall & Floor Tiling

Regardless of current economic conditions (both nationally and internationally), these skill areas are expected to remain a priority in the future. If you’re looking for a career change, this may be an opportune time to consider it and do some research. Remember, it’s never too late. Here’s a perfect example, in the 1990s I was dealing with an Accountant who was working full time in the profession and in his late 40s. He revealed to me that the following year he would only be working in a part time capacity in order to pursue further studies in medicine. How’s that for a career change!

Cheers,

Annie Cerone

Certain experts in the Recruitment and Human Resource Industry are optimistic about Australia’s future. Optimism has arisen through the government stimulus which is predicted to lead to improvements in the economy toward the end of 2009. Consumer and worker confidence and credit availability will both be improved. In addition, certain industries, especially those which have taken a real big hit are showing potential signs of stronger hiring patterns in the next few months.

Cheers,

Annie Cerone

Here are the latest job market statistics:

- The economy lost 44,000 full-time jobs in December 2008.

- The unemployment rate rose to 4.5% from 4.4% in November 2008.

- Full-time employment dropped by 44,000 to 7,640,200 while part-time positions soared 42,800 to 3,102,200, bringing the net loss of jobs to 1200.

- Economists fear the massive decline in full-time employment even offsetting for the rise in part-time employment

- A prominent Senior Economist predicts that job losses will accelerate and predicts the unemployment rate to hit 6% by the end of the year.

- JPMorgan is predicting forecasts a deep labour market adjustment that will result in employment falling 1% during the current recession.

Okay, it sounds bad doesn’t it? You’ve heard the cons, now here are the pros…

- The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the overall jobless rate rose slightly at 4.5%. Economists actually predicted a more substantial rise.
- Leaders in the HR and Recruitment industry remain optimistic (although still cautious) due Australia’s ongoing skills shortage. I’ll be devoting a Blog on this area shortly.

- This is now a time for employers to use the downturn in the economy as an opportunity to get hold of talent which would not normally be on the market, or would be too expensive in more buoyant times.

- A leading industry veteran is predicting a solid recovery in the second quarter of this year.
- A long-time recruiter and commentator said hiring will start to pick up rapidly from April 2009, warning employers to be wary of retrenching their valuable internal recruitment talent.

- This is a good opportunity for employers to replace to analyse and restructure the state of their human resources, specifically, replace underperformers with more quality candidates who are now back on the market due to employment cut backs.

On a final note, we’ve all heard of the term ‘what goes up must come down’, well it also applies in the opposite direction ‘ what goes down can come up’. This is ultimately what will happen with the economy. This downturn will not last forever. My motto has always been ‘there is a positive to every negative, you just have to find it and apply it’. No doubt a lot of you have been affected by the downturn in the job market, but this could be a perfect opportunity for those of you to reassess what it is you really want to do; essentially ask yourself is it time for change. This could be an opportunity to reskill in an area that may interest you more. The fact that there is an increase in part time employment could prompt you to look for part time work while studying. Of course, finances play a big factor in this. However, what is one of the key reasons for this downturn on a global level? The fact that the majority of us have been existing living well beyond our means! This needs to change. Make some adjustments at home, strip everything back to the basics – why do so many of us make our lives more complicated than what they are? Remember, we need to control what is around us, not the other way round!

Stay tuned for next week’s blog on the job skills shortage.

Cheers,

Annie Cerone