Job vacancy websites

Related pages

Finding leads

• Check the papers every day
• Get in touch with all your contacts
• Follow-up all the leads you find
• Keep a job leads diary

Actively looking for a job

Checking job ads is an important part of your job search. But it’s also very important to find your own leads because you get in first and show the employer you have initiative.

To find job ads:

• check the newspapers, community papers, local noticeboards and radio job lines
• use Internet job services
• contact employment agencies.

To find your own leads:

• ask friends, family and other contacts if they know of any jobs going
• find employers in the yellow pages and phone or visit them
• place ‘job wanted’ adverts in the paper
• read the business pages and tenders columns of the papers to find new or growing businesses that might have jobs.

Tips for checking job sites

Read all the ads and read the whole ad, not just the title, so you don’t miss anything suitable. If you’re interested, apply for it – even if you don’t think you have all the skills (most people won’t). Ask for a job description first so you can match your application to what they want, but be ready in case they ask you some questions when you first call.

Where to look

Use your contacts

Most people find work by word of mouth. Ask people you know if they’ve heard of any jobs or know anyone else who can help.

Try asking your family, friends, neighbours, people you’ve worked with before, and people you know through sports and community groups. Don’t feel embarrassed – networking is something successful people do all the time.

Follow every lead

Once you have a lead you need to follow up by phoning or visiting the employer. Here’s how to go about it:

• Think about what you want to say and be ready for questions (have your CV handy).
• If you’re phoning make sure it’s quiet.
• If you’re visiting wear clean, suitable clothes.
• Introduce yourself and ask for the name and title of the person who does the hiring.
• Ask to speak to that person, address them by their name and introduce yourself.
• When you meet in person, look them in the eye and shake hands firmly.
• Use your contacts (for instance ‘Fiona who works for you suggested I call’).
• Say briefly why you are calling and give basic information about your skills.
• Ask if they have time to talk now – or if you can make an appointment.
• Ask if they have any work coming up or if they can give you any leads.
• Thank them and ask if you can call again.
• Leave them a copy of your CV – or if you’ve phoned, follow up with a letter and your CV.

Keep a job leads diary and make sure you follow up on any possible job opportunity. You can download a Jobs lead dairy in rich text format below.

Following up job leads

Once you’ve found the names of companies to contact, the best thing you can do is see the person who does the hiring. Phone calls and letters are also important ways to make contact.

Calling employers

Before you phone an employer, first make notes about what you want to say and ask, and have your CV and a pen and paper handy. Speak clearly and politely, and make sure there will be no background noise or interruptions when you are making the call.

Here are some general guidelines

• Introduce yourself and ask for the name of the person who does the hiring.
• Ask to speak to that person, address them by name and introduce yourself.
• Use your connections (“Fiona who works for you suggested I call…”).
• Say why you are calling and give basic information about your skills.
• Ask for an appointment to discuss work opportunities.
• Ask them for job leads (and if you can use their name when you call the lead).
• Thank them and suggest you call again in case of future vacancies.
• Send a follow-up letter and include a copy of your CV.

You need to be persistent – employers are busy and often it’s hard to get to see them. If you are calling about a known vacancy the call may be like a short interview so you’ll need to be ready to answer questions about yourself. It may help to write down what you are going to say.

Your phone call might go something like this…

Hello my name is Chris Parker. Could you please tell me who hires your bakery staff and put me through to them?

Hello Mary, my name is Chris Parker. Jeff Gordon from Fine Foods suggested I call you.

I’ve had several years experience as a bakery assistant and I’d like to meet with you and talk about possible job opportunities with your company.

Would you mind if I come in and talk with you anyway in case you have an unexpected vacancy?

Are you aware of anyone else who may need staff at the moment?

Do you have a contact name there? Would you mind if I said you suggested calling them?

I’d like to check back with you in a week or two just to see if anything has come up.

In the meantime I’ll pop my CV in the mail for you.

Thanks very much for your time Mary.

You should write your own phone script before you call.

Visiting employers

Often making a phone call is faster and more economical than visiting employers – but with a visit you can sell yourself on the spot. Visiting an employer personally is a good way to get jobs such as labouring, or factory, shop and hotel positions.

You may be interviewed on the spot so you need to be well prepared.

• Think about what sort of job you want and what your skills and experience are.
• Be ready to answer questions – prepare your own questions too.
• Find out the name of the person who does the hiring before your visit.
• Make sure you look clean and tidy, and wear suitable clothes.
• If they can’t see you then, try and make an agreed time to come back.
• Thank them for their time and leave a copy of your CV.

What are employers looking for?

Employers like people who are motivated. So by actively seeking out job opportunities you show employers that you are motivated and keen to work – something they put at the top of the list when they are looking for new staff. You may even cut out the competition by getting in first.

So make sure they have your details and make follow up calls every so often. That way they’ll remember you when a job does come up – and they’ll know you’re keen to work for them.

Writing to employers

You can use a letter in the same way as a phone call – to introduce yourself, briefly explain what you want and ask for an appointment to discuss work opportunities. It can be a good way to make a first contact with someone in a large company where it might be harder to speak to the person who does the hiring.

It’s easy for people to put letters to one side, so make sure you find out who to write to (and ask how they spell their name), enclose a copy of your CV and say you’ll phone in a few days.

When you write always make a rough copy first. Type your letters if you can and get someone to check your spelling and grammar. Keep copies of everything you send.

You can download an example of introductory letter in rich text format which you can adapt for you own use.