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I know that it's university holidays at the moment. Yes I do keep track of academic dates! If you have nothing to do and have no travel plans for the holidays, why not consider getting a temporary job?

I know that holidays are meant for resting. I hear you all protesting against the notion of getting a job. However, consider this: would you rather go back to uni next semester too relaxed to study and take three weeks just to get over the holiday blues, or would you rather turn up at your classes ready to tackle the next set of challenges?

A job during your holiday break not only keep you active and thinking, it also allows you to start probing at future career prospects. Of course, that depends on the nature of the job you are taking, however plenty of temporary jobs and work experience opportunities are out there for you to start buliding a career network to set you up for after graduation.


Even an unpaid work experience position will benefit your career prospects. Think about the network you can build, just by using you holiday time helping out with minor jobs around the office. Or, consider going on a volunteer program: many learn more than they give when they are on volunteer programs, so why not make use of the opportunity and try to give something back into the communities at the same time? These community volunteer programs are especially good for those studying internaitonal studies/development related degrees as they'll give you first hand insight into the projects and for you to take your experience back into the classroom for discussion.

Or, if professional work is not really your cup of tea for your holiday periods, even having a cafe job or other casual work will at least keep you physically on the go and earn you a bit of money at the same time.


And in the end, all the benefits goes to you!
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We are talking about jobs here right? Yes. In last weekend's sydney Morning Herald career section, an article compares looking for your next job with looking for love. The article talks about job interviews like doing on a first date, and I would have to totally agree.

The job interview is your first physcial interaction with your prospective employer. It'll be the first time you meet and the first time you'll really be able to test out the personalities of each other outside the printed resume.

Therefore, rules of doing on the first date apparently applies to your job interview as well, and as listed in this particular article 'Shrae the love' by Jim Bright (Apologies I can't seem to find an online version of this article). The rules are:

1. Don't be late: this goes without saying. I wouldn't be late to school, I wouldn't be late to work, and I certainly wouldn't be late to a job interview. Being late will show that you do not care for this job and your tendency of being late. It's an instant strike out.

2. Don't be rude: Would you like someone if they were rude to you on first impression? Didn't think so. We are not just talking about with the person interviewing you, I am talking about with everyone else as well. People can observe and those who already work at the office will talk.

3. Don't talk about your ex: This point I thought was pretty funny, but extremely true. If you are going to sit there and talk about all the things that went wrong with your last job, the chances are that things will go wrong with your job interview too.

4. Don't be too needy: Well, what can I say? We don't like dating needy people, and so won't employers. Don't 'beg' for the job. Believe in your own abilities. Don't ask for more than you can chew. If you are going to aim for a salary that is above what you are worth, be assured that you won't get the job!

5. Don't be ditzy: While in the datin scene I do know that some men do prefer ditzy women, it certainly won't go well with job interviews. Ditzy is the sign of weakness and immature, not to mention: incompetent. You wouldn't want your employer to think that of you would you?

6. Don't play games: Don't try to be a smart arse and try the interviewer's patience. It is perfectly fine to ask valid questions regarding your careers as well as the position in general, but appearing to flirt/question and simply being a pain in the arse is not going to get you the job, no matter how funny the joke was.

7. Look healthy: You may have had a bad night's sleep, or perhaps you are still nursing a hang over or a long haul flight, smile and soldier on. When asked "How are you?" don't rely with "Oh I am still suffering from a flu that I caught while partying out all night the other week." A simply "I am fine. Thank you." will suffice. No one will blame you for lying.

There are certainly a lot of similarities there regarding going on your first date and attending your job interview. Ensure to present you at your best will be your best bet even before you get to show your true abilities.
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Being new in a job isn't easy. Everyone seem to know what they are doing and you feel like you are just hanging around, having to ask every single question and slowing everyone else's pace down because they have to take care of you.

Many new employees 'feel bad' for those around them and just sat there in the hope that everything will straighten itself out. They wait to be called on, they hope someone will notice them and in the end it's them that end up suffering because six month down the track, they still have no idea what to do.

Sure it takes time to learn everything, and the company has it in their best interest to train you up so you can start being productive as soon as possible. Why else would they want to employ you? However, don't forget that when people get busy, they get distracted, and they will forget about the new person.

All you have to do is ask.

It's always good to discuss with your management on the possibility of having an assigned mentor. Mentors are there to help you with your daily job role and a good mentor will become an important part of your success in this job. Meet your mentor and ask if you could set up a weekly follow up meeting with them. Put together plans to ask questions and work on certain complex tasks with them during this weekly session so they can show you how things are done.

If you sit there and never question, answers will never come. Make the initiative to ask and learn.

Unfortunately, not all workplaces have time or the resources to have a fixed mentor for you. I have noticed that some don't even offer training, and expect that you read and learn everything yourself. In this case, the quickest way for you to learn is to first watch those doing the same job as you and observe their actions. Try throw yourself in the deep end and work on some of the tasks yourself. Remember to grab someone to check over your work and that you have completed what was asked to do. Find out where information are stored and who to call for any issues. Create your own learning space and you'll be a pro in no time!

The most important lesson of all, is to make sure that you have to initiate the contact; you have to ask the questions; you have to lead.
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We all make mistakes. Yesterday in my new jobs I made my first major mistake mis-quoting the taxes required for a return flight from Sydney to London. This mistake is going to cost me $300 which thankfully is not too bad, however it's one that I don't intend to make again in the future. Ever.

Any good managers will know that making mistakes is only natural, especially in your early days with your job. There are two ways we can learn, we learn methods to avoid mistakes, or we make a mistake, and learn from the consequences


[ Click here to read more ]
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You thought being a travel agent/consultant was easy? All you do, is to greet customers, get their holidays booked and pocket the commission right?
That's what I thought before I started. I am not so sure anymore.

[ Click here to read more ]
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In my e-newsletter from MyCareer today they announced the launch of 'Head Hunter' - an online application that matches your skills and experience with jobs and apply directly from your own profiles to the employers.

Check out -> MyCareers Head Hunter
[ Click here to read more ]
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MySpace has long been known for a great place to go if you wish to be discovered for your singing and acting talents. Many artists started their careers by posting their songs on MySpace hoping on of the Hollywood scouts will hear them.

MySpace

[ Click here to read more ]
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Writing an exit / good bye email

May 29th 2008 02:16
Tomorrow is my last day. Time really flies doesn't it? So in the past few days I have been composing a good bye email to all the colleagues and friends I have made over the past five years, fiddling with words and phrases and trying not to sound tacky.

Don't leave without a trace!

[ Click here to read more ]
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Women in the work force

May 24th 2008 18:41
Society is changing. More and more women are hitting the work force and more and more focus are being put towards equality in the work place.


[ Click here to read more ]
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I've been accepted into Flight Centre for three weeks now. The HR representative said she would send an email with all the contract and employment paper work for me to look through before my first day. The first day is approaching and still, no email came. I phoned up to enquire about the process and as it turns out, the HR representative had been really busy and was grateful to me for reminding her to add this to her urgent to-do list.

Phone

[ Click here to read more ]
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