Tip of the Week

"Base your career and educational choices on who you are today. You can always change the course of your pathway in the future, as you yourself, and your desires, change".

http://www.myfuture.edu.au

 

Questions and Answers

This will be your opportunity to ask questions about your career and have them answered. If you have a query which you would be happy to have included in the next newsletter, email Shari sp.walsh@qut.edu.au

Contact Postgraduate Careers

If you have any queries about Postgraduate Careers or its services, please contact:

Dr Shari Walsh
Postgraduate Careers Counsellor (Monday to Thursday)

Email
sp.walsh@qut.edu.au

Phone
(GP) 3138 2649, (KG) 3138 3488

Office Locations
Level 2, X Block, Gardens Point
Level 4, C Block, Kelvin Grove

www.careers.qut.edu.au

Welcome Message

While you may have a clear idea of where your career is heading or where you would like to end up, we only need to look at people such as Martha Stewart or Anrold Schwarzenegger to see that the career path people plan is not always the one they stay in. In the Featured News Item: How chaos can work for your career, we hear how being flexible and embracing the unpredictable can help develop your career. We continue this theme in the Tip of the Week and Spotlight On by providing you with career planning tips and advice.

In our new section Two Minutes... we get to know Dr Alan McAlpine, Career Counsellor and Manager of Careers and Employment by gaining some interesting insights into his first job, his secret skill, the best career advice he has received and more.

Two Minutes...

With Dr Alan McAlpine, Career Counsellor and Manager, QUT Career and Employment

 

When I was growing up I always wanted to be...Probably a footballer (every Scottish boy wants to be a footballer, well nearly)... I still don't really know!!

My first job was... I had a job delivering newspapers from the age of 14 and later on worked on an ice-cream van.

Best career advice anyone has ever given me... You are in control of your own destiny.

The person who inspires me the most is... No one person in particular, lots of people really allow me to see new ways of doing things and aspiring to greater things.

My secret skill is... If I tell you it wont be a secret!!... I like to think I have good cooking skills. Masterchef here I come.

I wish I had... Made the decision to be a career counsellor earlier in my life. Don't regret the path I have taken though.

I wish I hadn't... Agreed to answer all these questions.

The most exciting place I have ever been is... Paris, I have been twice and it is a fabulous city with wonderful people.

The Hidden Job Market

Despite all the job sites now available, 60-75% of jobs are are not advertised through the media such as the Internet or Newspapers but found through the hidden job market. "The best opportunities are therefore less likely to be signposted with neon lights and the sooner you learn how to uncover these opportunities the closer you are to successfully finding not just any job, but the 'right' job!" (Graduate Careers Australia).

Tips for accessing the hidden job market:

1. Remain positive - perseverance is critical and accepting rejection is an important part of the process. Employers hire people who are confident, show enthusiasm and demonstrate a positive attitude.
2. Be realistic - looking for work is a long-term investment. Develop key skills such as telephone technique, high-level research and networking skills. It may be necessary to accept a temporary or entry-level position to get your foot in the door.
3. Get as many people as possible looking for you - this means telling everyone you know that you are looking and giving them a clear idea of what your skills are. Everyone means family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, current and/or past lecturers, current and past employers, even the owner of your corner store!
4. Check the newspaper for articles about companies that are expanding, new developments, government tenders or awards. Make contact before new jobs are advertised.
5. Identify two or three sectors you would ideally like to work in and do your market research. Check out their suppliers, distributors, customers and competitors. Check if there are any small businesses growing within these sectors
6. Create ways of expanding your network - join a professional association, volunteer for community projects, attend meetings of your local Chamber of Commerce (this is a great way to tap into small businesses).
7. Keep in touch with people who have given you any job-hunting assistance; provide them with feedback on your progress.
8. Familiarise yourself with the range of resources available: trade association directories, professional journals and industry training organisations. Your local reference librarian is worth their weight in gold, and don't forget about the yellow pages - an undervalued tremendous source of information.

This article was written by the Careers Advisory Service at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and is posted on the Graduate Careers Australia website.

Click HERE to read the full article or to find out more information on accessing the hidden job market.

Upcoming Events

 Workshops

Workshop	Date	Location	Time
Accessing the Workforce in Brisbane	17 November	GP W204	10am-11am
Resume and Letter Writing	17 November	GP O520	3pm-4pm
Addressing Selection Criteria	19 November	KG B304	9:30am-11am
Accessing the Workforce in Brisbane	23 November	GP W204	10am-11am
Interview Skills	24 November	KG B304	3pm-4:30pm
Resume and Letter Writing	26 November	GP Z301	9:30am-11am

Employer Presentations

There are no upcoming employer presentations.

For the most up to date information, or to view more events, go to QUT CareerHub on the Careers and Employment website.

Spotlight On

Career Planning

The Careers and Employment website has a section devoted to helping you determine your career path. Here you will find information such as:

• What is a career?
• The Career Planning Model: 7 steps to help you plan your career
• A specific website to help you "Plan your next career move"

Go to the Career Planning link under the Career Development section of the website for more information.