A Good Employment Agency In Melbourne and Is This The Right Decision????

[Bathsheba]

Making plans for 2010.

DS3yo is booked into a fantastic small Early Learning Centre (combined kinder and care) full-time Mon - Fri. So that's sorted. DS6 can easily go into After Care at school. DD15yo is probably the one I'm most worried about: I think sometimes it's more important to be home after school for a teen than a child! They can get into much worse strife So she will have to fend for herself... oh well... there goes all the food in the house, my make-up, and no doubt she will blow out the internet usage! She also tends to have 10 other teens over at drop of a hat... no doubt I'll come home to a mass orgy or two? No we don't have any extended family to help.

Anyhow... back to the main question: I'm looking for a job to start about mid January. I have looked on Seek (the online job finder) I don't think i like that approach. I think I prefer to see an agent face-to-face. I want to sit down with them, tell them my skills and preferences and have them match me. Does this still actually happen? It's been nearly 7 years since I've been in the paid work-force.

So tell me about agents that you would recommend? I'm happy to go to the CBD to see them and to work.

[Liz]

I don't see why you couldn't... usually once you've given your name & details for a job application, they keep you on the books and recommend jobs anyway.. so I don't see why you couldn't just approach the agency without one of their listed jobs in mind and get that initial interview out of the way.

Sounds exciting Bath! What type of work will it be?

[BellyBelly]

Bath, I used to work in IT Recruitment before I was a mother and yes alot more is going online. What will happen is if you see a job you like, you send in your resume and they will almost always ask to meet with you first before putting you forward on the job. This is so they can see your presentation skills, communication etc as well as get a better idea of your experience. Recruitment works fast, it's a sales industry so you really need to keep applying for those jobs you see and like or you can get swallowed up and forgotten about unless you are a gun at what you do. Recruiters always have in mind a handful of their top candidates floating around, but the industry works so fast - you can't apply or speak to them once and they do the work for you. Each person in a job is money and they will take the quickest route to get there. So my advice would be to send in for those jobs that sound great and they will get back to you if they think you are suitable and interview you. They wont do this for everyone, it would take too much time. So usually when they ask you to come in, they have a role in mind... unless they are a new recruit and get given the task of interviewing people for practise

[Bathsheba]

Hmmm. Ok thanks Kelly. Maybe an agency isn't the right thing then afterall if they only want to place me anywhere just for the money. I thought that there were places that would carefully match job and candidate. I'm probably better going direct to the companies I'd like to work for.

Liz: See I'm not sure. I have a very broad work experience. I know more about what I DON'T want to do than what I do. I don't want to work in child-care or hospitality even though I have done mostly that. I'd like to start as an office admin assistant I think... I've done that before and it was one of the better paid and less physically demanding roles I have done. With my thyroid condition i don't have the physical energy to be on my feet all day. Filing, data entry, reception, taking phone calls I think would be the better direction. I can present very well... have excellent communication and people skills... I think I could capitalise on that. Someone suggested working in a museum or art gallery... maybe I could do that... have a Fine Art Degree...

I guess I'm lucky in that I'd be working for my own sanity, rather than desperately needing the money. I'm not going to put up with pettiness and/or little Hitlers like I have before in the work-place. If it's a toxic environment I'm not going to stick around like i have in the past. I'm not going to work for people who are awful. Maybe it's best i choose the organisation after all. A lady at David Jones once told me to put in an application to work with her (she worked there... I didn't know her until that day) ... we got talking and had great rapport...

[Indadhanu]

Bath, definitely give it a go contacting the companies directly, this is how I got my job at Montessori. It was a 'cold call' basically, I sent them a resume at the end of October and a letter letting them know that I am really interested in Montessori as a long term career and viola! I start in 10 days!!

[Bathsheba]

Ah is that how it happened Leasha!? Yep, it does saound like the way to go. Well done!

Even though my resume is sparce (for the past 7 years) what I have done I have excelled at. I have done a few short courses (first aid) and volunteering too (Sunday school... but maybe it would be best not to mention that... they might think I'm a religious nut). If I show them my academic record for my degree they will see I had a Distinction average. I also worked at my last job for 6 years... and will have excellent references from my ex colleagues there (who I am still in contact with). I just want to work in a place where people are treated respectfully... is that too idealistic?

[HotI]

I recently hand delivered my cv and a cover letter to 6 places that were in the area that i wanted to work in. Although, i wasn't so sure about doing it personally at first, i think it was the best thing. i got to chat to a few people and check out the atmosphere.

One place had a job advertised that i hadn't seen, and so i picked up a position description and sent an extra page addressing the selection criteria. I was offered an interview the next day. Another place, called me and said although they didn't have any permanent positions they had plenty of casual work (better for me anyway at the moment) and i was invited in for interview.

Turning up to the interview is also easier if you have been there before, and know some familiar faces.

good luck,

k

[Indadhanu]

Definitely mention the Sunday School, its a great example of YOU! Besides, it shows committment and that you have 'community' interests KWIM? Giving nature and all that!

[Bathsheba]

Yes, I think that would be a good idea Kate. Friends of mine have suggested I go up to the hospital near us and hand in my resume... they have so many different roles there... from going around the wards collecting lists of patients who want the TV turned on in their room... to assisting the occupational therapist (I would love that role). I agree that doing that gives you a chance to make an intuitive judgement about the place...

ETA: thanks Leasha... i guess from my experience people don't always value spirituality... they think that you will try to convert them or something I think I'll mention it though, and only apply to places with a community focus... to increase the chances of them valuing it.

[fionas]

Bath - also have a look at jobs.vic.gov.au - it's all jobs with the State Government and they tend to do the recruiting directly rather than through agencies. Huge variety of jobs and because you're dealing with them directly it's no biggie if you get a bad vibe and turn down a job offer - rather than turning an agency down a couple of times and then being put into the "too hard to please basket" IYKWIM.

Having said that, if you're looking for admin work then what about temping? That way, with short-term assignments it's no big deal if you don't like the place. Next week, you're on to something else. And it's quite exciting too. If you go through an agency, they'll want to test your typing/software skills as a matter of course.

Also look at the websites of your local council(s) - again, they put jobs up there that they don't advertise in general media. I'm thinking you might like something like working in a library maybe?

I'm also thinking that working in a not-for-profit might suit you where you feel that what you're doing is actually worthwhile so no reason why you couldn't approach them directly.

[Astrid]

My experience matches what Kelly has said. Basically it took me applying for a job for the agency to take any interest in me and if they thought there was another job that was better suited they put me in for that.

Inside connections seem to work the best though, so do not hesitate to let someone recommend you for a job. My last full time job I had applied to the agency via an ad and as a coincidence my manager had also recommended me to this agency (I was honest about moving on). The job I applied for happened to be at my managers previous work. So I was a shoo in for the job. It is funny how things all tie together. Also the job I was leaving I got due to a friend getting me to call up and she put in a good word for me.

[Muppity]

There are often specialist recruitment firms for professional industries like law and accounting.

Generally they are smaller recruitment firms and have a good grasp of a particular market and are willing to have you come in for a chat and see if they have anything that you fit into.

Maybe think of what sort of industry you work in and then have a look.

I know that law firms are always looking for more mature reliable administrative assistants.

Also tell all your friends that you are looking for a job and get DH to tell everyone he knows too - it is amazing what comes out of the woodwork if people know that you are looking.

[Bathsheba]

Thanks again girls. Fiona: yep, I've done temping... was tested like you said through an agency but I wasn't really keen on going through that particular agency again... they put me in some horrid jobs... one was with Victorian Transport right before it was privatised... the whole mood of the office was AWFUL!!! I was warned that it was going to be a tough role (receptionist) the agency girl said to me: "you can give them a go but they are going through staff like tissues... they want someone tomorrow though... so i took it. I lasted about a month... it was the longest of any receptionist but in the end some woman decided she wanted a change again so (it seemed) took great delight in "sacking" me. I had never been (and never since) been sacked before. Even though i was warned, it was awful to go through...very demoralising. It has kind of put me off temping. But thanks for the suggestion.

I agree Astrid, it's "who you know". I know a security guy and a nurse at the Austin... they're trying to get me a job there... at the moment this is my best lead.

[anney]

I was going to suggest the hospital too Bath as I know you are very close to one of the largest ones in Melbourne. They have a recruitment section on their website so you can keep in touch with what is going on. Hospitals are usually very supportive environments in which to work. I have worked in various hospital roles for 25 years so if you need any tips with resumes or interview, let me know. Only downside is many departments have a 7.30 or 8am start which might be a bit early for you.

[Bathsheba]

Update:

Browsing MyCareer website I came across a position as Office Admin Assistant at a Language Education Centre... and applied for it. I don't have a degree in one of this centres languages but I thought I might as well give it a shot as I met all the other criteria and do have a moderate ability speaking French. Fingers crossed!

I also registered with Centerlink as a Job Seeker. As part of that process they asked me to choose, from their list, an employment agency. I chose the one in the CBD. They then made an appointment for me to meet with them... next Monday! It seems as if they are going to do exactly as I was hoping!!! I have to bring in all my employment and education details and they are going to actually help me write a resume and assist me in finding a job! They are going to take into account that i can't do very physical work due to my thyroid issue too... I was a bit worried that they would just put me into anywhere but they seem quite accommodating. It's very daunting applying for work after so long... but the ball is rolling!

[Indadhanu]

YAY!

I started my job today Bath, a few hours this arvo, and it was GREAT! I'm still pinching myself over the opportunity!!

[thepixie]

Good on you Bath! I think you'll enjoy yourself, the mental stimulation will do you good!
I'm in a similar situation to Leasha - pinching myself! I also got a job that I am really excited about, originally I applied for a different position, the woman who interviewed me must have liked me because she referred my CV to another department, a few weeks later they rang to say they had a position and I should apply. Even though I have no direct experience in this role (as an underwriter) they felt that I could do it and that I was a good fit for the organisation. I just got back from the company conference and I haven't even started yet!
So good luck! I'll be watching to see how you go!

[fionas]

Well done Bath!