(Or how to find a professional contracting job in Melbourne in 2020)
Today was a day of job hunting - and lunching - which is never a bad thing. The latter, not the former that is.
Job hunting sucks. It sucks up there with doing the hoovering and cleaning out the shower drains or scrubbing out the wheelie bins. It's not fun - but you have to make it that way to get through it.
Job hunting is one of those tasks that I take on as a game - like Cards Against Humanity. It takes a sick sense of humour and some strategy and a bit of tenacity. It will all come good in the end, but while you're looking, you need to stack your cards, sit back, take your time and wait for everything to come together.And when the time comes, you'll get to play your cards and all will be well with the world and you won't have to look for work until the next time you look for work.
Also, just because you have an interview doesn't mean you stop job hunting. You keep going. You keep going until you have a signed contract in your hand - so just because I had an interview yesterday, which I think when quite well doesn't mean you stop applying for roles.
When it comes to putting in applications, I use a scatter gun approach. There was a course that I went on once which was about summoning the universe. You have to let the universe know you're open to opportunities - which means applying for things, everything, giving yourself a chance to find something. Jobs, unfortunately, don't normally come to you.
If you shoot often enough, something will hit the target eventually.
Some other elements of job hunting that has to be done in the hiatus period a bit more bearable.
1. Make sure you get out of the house and have a conversation with somebody once a day. I have the gym for this, but I also make sure I go and meet friends for lunch / coffee regularly. Don't make job hunting the only thing you do with your time off. Have a life while your looking.
2. Loyalty to one recruitment agency is not a good thing - even if they say otherwise. Recruitment consultants, when it all comes down to it, are just glorified pimps - albeit legal, well paid, not overly threatening pimps. They sell on your services for a lot of money. Isn't that the definition of a pimp?
When you're looking for work, the only thing you need to do is let them know that 1) you're actively looking. 2) inform them if you have any interviews or offers on the table and 3) promise them transparency. You need a job. You can't rely on one company.
After today's lunch with Glen Waverley, I bumped into an old colleague. We had a chat about recruitment consultants. We're of the same opinion. They are not your friend. Often they are millenials who have little clue and fewer phone manners. When you find a good one, and often they're the ones who've been at the game for a while, stick to them. They are like gemstones and unicorn droppings. The really good ones will call you. The good ones will take your calls and have coffee with you even if you're not working for them. The good ones give you a call when they have something, even though they know you're working for somebody else.
3) Call up your old contacts. You can't burn bridges as a contractor. When you do, you'll have a VERY good reason as to why you have no contact with the person. Keeping in touch with people is necessary. You never know when something will come up and somebody might want you back. You never know when somebody hears of something going with your skill set and they think of you. It means being a bit sociable and feeling a bit grovelly.
4) Limit your time on the hunt. Job hunting be a marathon, not a sprint. If you're lucky, you won't have to be hunting for too long, but in the mean time, set your job hunting times. It's not something you can do all day. An hour or so is all you need. Set your time, check out LinkedIn and Seek.com.au, put in your applications, get on with your day.
5) Unless you're applying straight to a company or have been asked for one, don't bother with a cover letter. A generic, Dear XXXX, I would love the opportunity to discuss the advertised role or roles like it with you. I believe I've got the skill set you require. Best regards, Me.
Don't waste your time, don't waste theirs - unless they ask for one.
6) For government jobs, where you have to address a lot of criteria, do it well. Be thorough. I'm not good at this - probably why I've never worked in government.
7) If you end up gaining more than one role, go with your gut. Which one is the better fit? It's not always about the money.
8) But saying that, don't devalue yourself. Know your worth. Stick with your worth. Know your bottom line. There is no reason to deviate from that.
9) Keep remembering, it's all a numbers game. Use the scatter gun. Go with your gut, and find a reason to smile.
Just like Cards Against Humanity, the right combination of cards will come.
Today's song:
Today was a day of job hunting - and lunching - which is never a bad thing. The latter, not the former that is.
Job hunting sucks. It sucks up there with doing the hoovering and cleaning out the shower drains or scrubbing out the wheelie bins. It's not fun - but you have to make it that way to get through it.
Job hunting is one of those tasks that I take on as a game - like Cards Against Humanity. It takes a sick sense of humour and some strategy and a bit of tenacity. It will all come good in the end, but while you're looking, you need to stack your cards, sit back, take your time and wait for everything to come together.And when the time comes, you'll get to play your cards and all will be well with the world and you won't have to look for work until the next time you look for work.
Also, just because you have an interview doesn't mean you stop job hunting. You keep going. You keep going until you have a signed contract in your hand - so just because I had an interview yesterday, which I think when quite well doesn't mean you stop applying for roles.
When it comes to putting in applications, I use a scatter gun approach. There was a course that I went on once which was about summoning the universe. You have to let the universe know you're open to opportunities - which means applying for things, everything, giving yourself a chance to find something. Jobs, unfortunately, don't normally come to you.
If you shoot often enough, something will hit the target eventually.
Some other elements of job hunting that has to be done in the hiatus period a bit more bearable.
1. Make sure you get out of the house and have a conversation with somebody once a day. I have the gym for this, but I also make sure I go and meet friends for lunch / coffee regularly. Don't make job hunting the only thing you do with your time off. Have a life while your looking.
2. Loyalty to one recruitment agency is not a good thing - even if they say otherwise. Recruitment consultants, when it all comes down to it, are just glorified pimps - albeit legal, well paid, not overly threatening pimps. They sell on your services for a lot of money. Isn't that the definition of a pimp?
When you're looking for work, the only thing you need to do is let them know that 1) you're actively looking. 2) inform them if you have any interviews or offers on the table and 3) promise them transparency. You need a job. You can't rely on one company.
After today's lunch with Glen Waverley, I bumped into an old colleague. We had a chat about recruitment consultants. We're of the same opinion. They are not your friend. Often they are millenials who have little clue and fewer phone manners. When you find a good one, and often they're the ones who've been at the game for a while, stick to them. They are like gemstones and unicorn droppings. The really good ones will call you. The good ones will take your calls and have coffee with you even if you're not working for them. The good ones give you a call when they have something, even though they know you're working for somebody else.
3) Call up your old contacts. You can't burn bridges as a contractor. When you do, you'll have a VERY good reason as to why you have no contact with the person. Keeping in touch with people is necessary. You never know when something will come up and somebody might want you back. You never know when somebody hears of something going with your skill set and they think of you. It means being a bit sociable and feeling a bit grovelly.
4) Limit your time on the hunt. Job hunting be a marathon, not a sprint. If you're lucky, you won't have to be hunting for too long, but in the mean time, set your job hunting times. It's not something you can do all day. An hour or so is all you need. Set your time, check out LinkedIn and Seek.com.au, put in your applications, get on with your day.
5) Unless you're applying straight to a company or have been asked for one, don't bother with a cover letter. A generic, Dear XXXX, I would love the opportunity to discuss the advertised role or roles like it with you. I believe I've got the skill set you require. Best regards, Me.
Don't waste your time, don't waste theirs - unless they ask for one.
6) For government jobs, where you have to address a lot of criteria, do it well. Be thorough. I'm not good at this - probably why I've never worked in government.
7) If you end up gaining more than one role, go with your gut. Which one is the better fit? It's not always about the money.
8) But saying that, don't devalue yourself. Know your worth. Stick with your worth. Know your bottom line. There is no reason to deviate from that.
9) Keep remembering, it's all a numbers game. Use the scatter gun. Go with your gut, and find a reason to smile.
Just like Cards Against Humanity, the right combination of cards will come.
Today's song:
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