[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:
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.""
What kind of jobs do you think are best to do while studying?
Jobs related to your studies (where possible) it gets you the hands on experience (that's why I love my apprenticeship). But it's also nice to do something different and low stress (like stacking shelves)
@j95 apprenticeship is a good deal in that you get relevant experience! It can be quite a bit tougher for some of us to find roles that give us those opportunities but they are out there with tonnes of searching, and perhaps volunteering too! Being an umpire sounds like a pretty good deal too, you get exercise out of it too!
I think tutoring is great, especially if you can tutor something you're studying, which helps solidify your understanding of the concepts and helps you become a more effective communicator and instructor, which can apply to pretty much every job!
gonna keep it rolling and move on to the next question guys. Thanks for all your contributions!
- What tips would you suggest to people applying for jobs after being unemployed for a long period of time?
I think it's good to tailor your application to account for the time you've spent during that time. For example, if you've been doing stuff like volunteering or have been studying during that time, you can draw attention to that in your cover letter or resume. It's also good to be prepared to explain what you've been doing in the interview as well !
Agreed @copse
i think the cover letter is also really underlooked part of the application process that can really make applicants stand out, and it gives you the chance to explain just why you think you're perfect for a job - even if you've been out of the workforce for a while. That kinda stuff is difficult to express on a resume!
@copse Ah I meant the overall topic, not necessarily the same content you are learning (that would be quite impressive!). Even if it's the super basic stuff, it still helps you keep your knowledge refreshed and up to date. I know teaching basic French helped me somewhat maintain my level since I got back from France!
@Bee Thanks for hanging around a bit longer 🙂 You were a great contributor and I hope you got something good out of it too! Night
Thanks for joining us @Bee Really appreciate your contributions 🙂
Okay next q! 😄
What kind of jobs do you think are best to do while studying?
What kind of jobs do you think are best to do while studying?
So, typically I would say that a part-time, low stress role would be ideal for studying. Anything in retail, customer service, office admin stuff. But that's not what i'm doing! I'm working full time and my role can be pretty stressful, but I find it worth it in the end because the job i'm doing is relevant to my degree so in the end it pays off, and I really enjoy what i'm doing.
@benjamin_ Flexible and low stress is really important, especially come exam time!
Hospitality! Evening work is super useful because it doesn't clash with uni.... also tutoring and refereeing sports are good money for off-peak hours!
@Bee That sounds good. I eventually plan to do something casual or part time, anything really that gives me a chance to focus on my studies more!
@copse tutoring and refereeing are great suggestions. I have a friend who did tutoring throughout most of his uni years and it made him enough money to get by, wasn't particularly stressful either! Hospitality is def good with flexible hours. I haven't done it but I have quite a few friends who have.
Depends what your studying and what level.
For me, I'm studying diploma in early ed (0-5years) and working in retail suits me fine, it gives me a break from my studies and I an leave work at work to concentrate on my study. I also have a more stable income with casual retail than I would casual early ed
