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!