You've read through all the job ads, sent out loads of resumes and are waiting for the phone to ring. But no-one calls. What went wrong?
According to QUT career counsellor Clive May, the most common mistake people make is not following the application instructions ... and usually that means avoiding doing cover letters or not answering questions relating to selection criteria.
"The other mistake people make is to send the same resume to everyone," he said.
"That used to be something you could get away with but now you have to tailor it for each prospective employer. You're better off sending fewer applications but tailoring the ones you do send."
On June 19, Mr May and fellow QUT career counsellor Barry Ryan will run a free job seeking skills session at Caboolture Library (4 Hasking St) from 10am to 12noon, which is open to all ages.
The two-hour sessions are held several times a year, with the QUT counsellors also offering one-on-one career counselling appointments every Wednesday at alternating libraries across Moreton Bay (North Lakes, Deception Bay, Strathpine and Caboolture).
"We usually get between 15 and 25 people at each job seeking skills session and they are all very motivated to find work or change careers," Mr May said.
"But often they are frustrated because they realise they are not quite getting the application process right.
"What we do is show them ways to tweak their applications and improve their chances of getting an interview ... how to write a good cover letter, how to answer selection criteria and how to really give employers what they want.
"We also look at the interview process and what type of questions people might ask, what answers they can give.
"And before we do any of that, we talk about career planning. We ask people to do a self-assessment activity and it's great because a lot of people don't realise there are so many fantastic careers out there that might really suit them."
Mr May said it was very rewarding to hear back from people who had attended one or multiple sessions and then landed a job.
"It's not all due to us, but it's a good feeling to know that we might have helped in some way," he said.
The job seeking skills sessions are run as part of QUT's Widening Participation program, which aims to improve education and career opportunities for people in the Moreton Bay community.
"We offer career advice for any career pathway - traineeships, apprenticeships, TAFE, any university," he said.
For information on the Moreton Bay Libraries job seeking skills sessions and individual counselling appointments, please call QUT on 5316 7666 or email yourfuture@qut.edu.au.
To book for the June 19 session contact the Caboolture Hub Library on libraries@moretonbay.qld.gov.au or 5433 2000. Details of future sessions will be posted on the libraries website.
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au
