cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Main content skiplink
Join an event. Happening today.

[CHAT] Work it

Whether:

- you are going for your first ever after school job at 14 & 9 months, or

- you've left school and looking for an apprenticeship/traineeship or

- you are trying to work to support your study at uni or tafe or

- you've finished your study and you want your first full time job or

- you haven't worked for a long time but it's time to get a job...

- you are working hard for the money...

Looking for a job and/or working can be a pretty nerve wrecking experience, especially trying to keep everything running smoothly!

 

You might be wondering how you can find the right kind of job that suits you; how to make it through the dreaded interview; how to make sure you are not taken advantage of; how to manage your pay & make it last the fortnight;  and before any of that - resumes these days have become an art form!

 

Or what about this age old conundrum:

experience

cycle

 

Here's a story from a forum member, Chonty

 

"The first job I ever had was working in a fast food joint after school and on weekends. I remember wanting to quit in the first week because it was all too new and I didn’t like the manager. I also remember how exciting it was to get my first pay, and I’m pretty sure I spent it immediately on new clothes and forgot all about wanting to leave. That’s pretty much how I spent every pay for two years straight, without a thought about saving for future things.

 

It wasn’t until schoolies came around that I realised I didn’t have enough saved to do all the things that had been planned! Luckily in the end my family were all able to chip in in and it all worked out, but they let me sweat it for a while. Being in a position where I realised I hadn’t managed my money as well as I should have wasn’t the best.""

 
Join us Monday 27th APril at 8pm AEST to pick up some tips on looking for work, landing that job, getting used to a new work environment, being money smart and generally handling all things employment like a boss.
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 24-04-2015 11:04 AM

Comments (10 pages)

 
j95
j95Posted 27-04-2015 09:16 PM
@benjamin_ presentation is important! My first ever job I rocked up in thongs to the interveiw (looking back I realize its a no no) "they" say to dress job appropriate so if you got asked to start in an hour for example you would ready to do. Not applicable in all situations, like I did not show up in my tradie shorts and singlet to my landscaping interview, but it's a good general rule of thumb.
 
j95
j95Posted 27-04-2015 09:12 PM
How would you prepare for a job interview?

Research the job and company is a good one!! You don't want to get to interview and be like "got no clue why I'm here or what this place does, I just need a job dude"
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:14 PM

so true @j95 

 

I actually remember there was a period last year where I applied for a bunch of jobs and got a call from one 2 weeks later offering me an interview. I had absolutely no idea what the role was so I was super awkward on the phone pretending like I knew what was going on hahah. Luckily it went well in the end. 

 
redhead
redheadPosted 27-04-2015 09:10 PM
I'm gonna have to go guys. sorry
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:10 PM

No worries @redhead thanks for joining us!

 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:08 PM

Okay guys, time for the next question.

 

  1. How would you prepare for a job interview? 

I generally try to prepare lots of answers to typical questions employers would ask. If you google "questions asked in interviews" you can actually find a bunch of great resources about the typical questions asked as well as answers that are appropriate, but you still can be yourself! You don't wanna artificially regurgitate stuff you read online !

 

I also think it's really helpful to research the company you're applying for and be able to show that you know a bit about the company. It shows that you're interested in what they're doing which might increase your chances. 

 
 
Mermaidgirl6
Mermaidgirl6Posted 27-04-2015 09:13 PM

How would you prepare for a job interview?

 

Great tips, @benjamin_ !

 

For  myself too, I can suffer from a bit of anxiety and nerves before an interview - so after I choose the 'right' outfit and get myself presented well, I devote quite a bit of time mentally preparing for the interview, by running through potential questions, reading through my resumes and think of what questions they might ask re-past job experience, and how my skills might relate to the job i am applying for.

 

My mouth is always so dry, I feel so hot all dressed up (as in temperature wise!) - and i have butterflies in my stomach waiting in that foyer until i am called in tho! Cat Embarassed

 
 
 
copse
copsePosted 27-04-2015 09:16 PM
@Mermaidgirl6 nerves before an interview are so bad! No matter how much you practise its still really scary to go in there
 
 
 
Mermaidgirl6
Mermaidgirl6Posted 27-04-2015 09:16 PM

Thanks guys, for running another GR sesh!! I'm going to have to call it a night and get myself ready for tomorrow! It was a pleasure taking part in the discussion. Cat Very Happy

Good night!

 
 
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:22 PM

@Mermaidgirl6 no prob! Thanks for joining us and contributing!

 
 
 
 
FItzChivalry
FItzChivalryPosted 27-04-2015 09:21 PM

@Mermaidgirl6 Thank you for your contributions! Good night 😄

 
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:15 PM

@Mermaidgirl6 mentally preparing yourself is a great way to put it! I get anxious too so it helps for me to mentally rehearse it, feel slike i'm more ready by the time I get there!

 

I don't think i'll ever not be nervous for a job interview, but I think mentally preparing helps reduce it 🙂

 
 
FItzChivalry
FItzChivalryPosted 27-04-2015 09:10 PM
  1. How would you prepare for a job interview? 

 

The best thing for me is knowing all about the company and the role, so I can be confident that I am suited to it. Once I know that it is something I can do well, I usually go into the interview without stressing out. Also accepting that the worst possible scenario is that you might not get the job can help ease the nerves too.

 
 
 
Bee
BeePosted 27-04-2015 09:15 PM
How would you prepare for a job interview?
I always try to read over some questions have something prepared. But my last one, all I did was focus on being calm! I also just remembered who I was, what my god qualities ere and played on them. I really played on what my teachers said about me during high school. it worked. As I said earlier tonight, I winged my most important question. I played on what I knew he wanted to here, but strung it into what people said about me and what I'd proved with my experience thus far.
 
 
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:18 PM

@Bee That's a great idea - playing on what your teachers have said about you. I think it def adds more weight to it if someone like a teacher or previous employer was able to observe those qualities in you. 

 

@j95 I didn't do thongs but I was pretty damn rough to my first interview too. I didn't get the job - not sure if that was why, but i'm positive it contributed Lol. That's a good point about it being diff for each type of job though. Wearing a full on suit might not always be appropriate, being a bit more casual might be better for some interviews

 
 
 
 
 
Bee
BeePosted 27-04-2015 09:23 PM
@j95 @benjamin_ my first interview was a singlet and cardi with a skirt... oops haha the one I have now, I wore a plain grey t-shirt and black skirt with ballet flats. Hair neatly in a ballet bun.
 
 
 
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:26 PM

@Bee I'm sure you were still well presented while being casual since it worked for you!

 
 
 
 
 
Bee
BeePosted 27-04-2015 09:29 PM
yeah, I was as close to the uniform of the shop while not being in uniform! lols @benjamin_
 
 
 
 
 
Bee
BeePosted 27-04-2015 09:21 PM
@benjamin_ being someone who struggles to find good qualities in myself, for me playing on those words felt ok. Because they also came from people I trusted and respected, and I used phases like "people often say I'm..." in my interview...
 
 
 
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:24 PM

I know what you mean @Bee 

 

i wouldn't say i'm super confident either, and I'm often quite surprised by the kinda comments employers or other people can make about it. It can be easier drawing from what people you've worked with have said rather than talking yourself up sometimes. 

 
 
 
 
 
benjamin_
benjamin_Posted 27-04-2015 09:21 PM

It's the best @copse wish I got to do it more often!

 

suit-up-Barney-Stinson3.jpg

 
 
 
 
FItzChivalry
FItzChivalryPosted 27-04-2015 09:17 PM

@Bee I think that's the most important thing. You are who you are, and the more calm and relaxed you are the more likely the interviewer will be able to see the true and awesome you 🙂

 
 
 
 
 
Bee
BeePosted 27-04-2015 09:20 PM
thats true @FItxChivalry he obviously liked what he saw in me, because I got it. And have been there 6 months now! (it's been that's long!)
 
 
 
 
 
FItzChivalry
FItzChivalryPosted 27-04-2015 09:23 PM

@Bee That's the thing too, if you are comfortable enough to act yourself during the job interview, and they are happy with who you are, then there's no surprises for anyone and it's clear you'll be suited for the job in the long run! So many people try and fake it in the interview just to get the job but then realize soon after that the job isn't actually well suited to them or vice versa!

 
 
 
 
 
Bee
BeePosted 27-04-2015 09:25 PM
thats so true! @FItzChivalry even with retail there are so many MORE challenges than I thought there would be for me. But in saying that, I enjoy most day more than I thought I would. Especially when I get to stack shelves, I don't know why, but I seem to like that! haha

Welcome back!

Join the Community

ReachOut is confidential & anonymous.

8+ characters, 1 capital letter, 1 lower case letter and 1 number

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.