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Applying for jobs
Where to find job vacancies
Unless you’re very lucky,
nobody is going to come knocking on your door with a job offer! Before you can
wow prospective employers with your amazing CV and interview skills you must find
out where the job vacancies are. There are all sorts of ways to look for jobs.
Some are ‘formal’, like visiting the Job Centre, and others ‘informal’, like asking
your friends to keep a look-out for you. The more methods you try, the greater
your chances of success.
Careers Centres
Since April 2001 all the Careers Companies have merged to form Careers Wales.
However each company still offers services to a distinct geographical area. Careers Wales offers an all-age guidance service.
This means whether you are in education, training or employment, whether you are young or not so young, you will still be able to get help and advice.
This could mean finding jobs, apprenticeships and other work-place training, or getting advice on courses, subjects and qualifications you need.
You can also get advice on vacation work or where to spend your gap year.
Vacancies both local and national are advertised and staff are trained to help and advise people with all aspects of job hunting.
Job Centres
Government-run employment
agencies. Anyone can use Job Centres, you don’t have to be unemployed or claiming
benefits. As well as job vacancies they offer advice on training opportunities
for unemployed over-18s.
Employment Agencies
Private businesses which
charge a fee to employers to find people to fill their job vacancies. They often
specialise in temporary or casual work or in particular types of work like office
work or catering. The good news is that their services are free to job seekers.
You can find addresses in Yellow Pages.
Newspapers
Local papers usually carry
job adverts on a particular day of the week. If you’re a young person, look for
phrases like ‘school leaver’, ‘trainee’, ‘apprentice’, ‘no experience required’
or ‘experience not essential’. Adverts in national newspapers are mainly for older,
more experienced people.
Magazines and trade journals
If you’re trained, skilled
or experienced in a particular type of work, trade journals, like ‘Caterer and
Hotelkeeper’, are useful sources of national job vacancies. They may also carry
adverts for trainees.
Notice boards and shop windows
School or college ‘career’
notice boards often advertise job vacancies so you should check them regularly.
Large stores like supermarkets may have job vacancy boards, and shop, café or
hairdresing salon windows occasionally display signs advertising jobs within.
Friends and family
A surprisingly high number
of jobs are filled through informal networking. If you’re looking for work, make
sure you let your friends and family know so they they can keep an eye open for
you.
Work experience and part-time
jobs
Work experience placements
and part-time jobs sometimes lead to offers of permanent work. If you’re interested,
make sure you let the right people know. The worst that can happen is they’ll
say no! Even if they can’t help you now, something may come up later and they
may be able to advise you on how to improve your chances of getting in.
Speculative applications
Many job vacancies are
never advertised. You can try writing speculative letters to employers, on the
off-chance that they might have a vacancy or be planning to recruit in the near
future. You’ll need to find out which companies might offer the sort of work you’re
looking for, so you can target your letters. Your local Careers Centre or Job
Centre may be able to help.
The Internet
Web sites which carry job
vacancies are one of the fastest growing areas of the Internet. Some allow you
to display your CV to potential employers. Most adverts are for experienced applicants
or graduates rather than school leavers. Your local Careers Centre may have its
own web site which advertises vacancies for young people.
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