Looking for work...

old_mate · 12-03-2007, 07:16 PM

G'day all

Just after any ideas and advice regarding my missus who is looking for a different employer. She has applied for more than 50 positions through seek.com.au, mycareer.com.au and the like and apart from a couple of informal interviews has not received any offers, interest, anything. It's starting to get her really down. The recruitment companies that advertise on those websites are shocking. Not following up, advising positions having been filled the same day the job is advertised, telling her that her current package of 45k inclusive of super is too much etc etc.

She currently is in a case manager/administrative role within a large insurance company (major sponsor of this weekend's GP, Billy Connolly does their ad's) in their life insurance department. Ideally she wants to get into a Personal Assistant or HR administration role. Just general admin type stuff not within the insurance sector

has anyone here been through a similar deal with recruitment companies and can give us some advice? or anyone know of someone looking for a keen, enthusiastic, hard working chick who is really wanting to learn and advance in her career?

XR6_661 · 12-03-2007, 07:33 PM

try local government. ie. Council.

They'll give her any training she needs, and pay for it.

Better pay than most private companies...As much as people bag the council for having lazy workers, they are good employers.

I have worked for Council for a year and a half now and it's been great.

Council's often advertise in the job section of newspapers...Usually about 3-4 jobs per ad. Also check out the local councils website, they also have job oppurtunites on them.

Hope this helps.

Ridin-High · 12-03-2007, 08:22 PM

My advice to her is just to keep plugging away, ive been doing that for 3 months.... in my exp agencys for full-time work are homo.... good for contract warehouse n stuff

b2tf · 12-03-2007, 08:26 PM

Just my 2c.....

Basically every employment agency etc I have ever used, are the most useless hopeless bunch of lazy buggers Ive ever dealt with. They do nothing, you have to basically stay on their backs to make them even submit applications for you etc. Im honestly amazed how some of them stay in business because they just don't seem to do anything!

mrgo40rd · 12-03-2007, 09:24 PM

yes there are the bad employment agents but there are some good ones last week i applied for a job on seek sent my resume thur within 30mins i had a phone call to come in for a interview.i attended the agency (3s there called in syd) had interview then 1hr later had phone interview with company and next day had interview 2hrs later employment agents on phone telling me i had the job was easy and i start my new job next week.

DTFRMONT · 12-03-2007, 09:46 PM

Has she looked at the Federal Government. again, full training is usually given, & the conditions & pay are good. The Public Service Gazette is updated every Thursday.

www.psgazette.gov.au

Ringo · 13-03-2007, 12:56 PM

If you've ever been one the recieving end of seek.com or my career.com or any other of those internet job lists then you'll see that you get 100 applications a day of which 98 will not have the required qualifications or experience.

Users can store their resume online and then just press the 'send resume' button to apply - to easy.

To sort through so many "to whom it may concern" applications takes forever. Some applications have to be seen to be believed - lies, spelling mistakes, sob stories

The company I work for used to use those services but now only uses it if we get desperate. Advertising in the paper costs a bomb but you get better quality applications - people have to send a cover letter and invest time in the application.

I have no advice except avoid internet and do it the old fashioned way and be pro-active. A finance background is able to be used in so many different ways and keep a solid positive attitude - even with the knockbacks...

robjh80 · 13-03-2007, 02:22 PM

Hey mate, I notice your in Brisbane, I'm with Qldhealth, they have just launched this new website "Work For Us", have a look, see if there is anything there that the missus could apply for,

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/workforus/

or perhaps give HR here at the RBH/RCH Site a call on 3636 7533, they would probably be able to steer her in the right direction, there is over 10,000 employees on this site alone, let alone all the other Health Districts across Brisbane.

Most importantly tell her to not get too down about it, we've all been there done that, try and stay positive...........and as others have said, "forget employment agencies" they're useless!!

Maybe she could get all dressed up nice, arm herself with a heap of Resume's and go out knocking on Govt Dept doors, I know a lot of people that have had a lot of success doing just that.........remember if they can actually see you in person and the first impressions are favourable then that is worth a whole lot more than words on just another Resume or Job Application which most companies get flooded with daily..........."actually deliver the Resume in person, dont just post it in like everyone else does."

Good Luck.

kempster1 · 13-03-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robjh80

Maybe she could get all dressed up nice, arm herself with a heap of Resume's and go out knocking on Govt Dept doors, I know a lot of people that have had a lot of success doing just that.........remember if they can actually see you in person and the first impressions are favourable then that is worth a whole lot more than words on just another Resume or Job Application which most companies get flooded with daily..........."actually deliver the Resume in person, dont just post it in like everyone else does."

Good Luck.

I know it will be hard as she is already working, but you can not beat this.
Getting around different companies and showing that your keen for a position.
It is a perfect first impression to make to a possible new employer

old_mate · 13-03-2007, 08:44 PM

Thanks for all the info people, i have let her read the posts and follow a few links. I too, reckon a government job is the way to go, hard part will be finding the right one (as she is loathe to apply for something she doesnt have all the qualifications for)

and i too agree that a more proactive and personal approach is the way to go. We'll see how it goes.