Starting to look for a suitable job should begin well before you leave school, further education or training. If you have had careers talks in school, these will have given you some information about the variety of jobs available. Your Careers Adviser and Careers Teacher will be able to help you to decide which job might be the best for you.
When you leave school, further education or training, a Career Adviser in your local JobCentre /Jobs and Benefits Office/Careers Office will continue to help you to find a job.
Think about yourselfBefore applying for a job, it is useful to start by thinking about yourself. What job might you be good at? Have you considered what job you might like best, or are
most interested in? There is no point in applying for just any job, so some careful thought is worthwhile.
Looking for jobs- Start by looking in the local newspapers. If you do not get these at home, try the local libraries or JobCentre/Jobs and Benefits Office/Careers Office. You could also try the local free papers which sometimes carry job adverts.
- Go to the nearest JobCentre/Jobs and Benefits Office/Careers Office.
- The following are also possible sources of job vacancies:
• Internet – see useful sites listed at end
• Post Offices
• Local Shop Windows
• Community Employment Agencies
• Television or Radio
• Community Centres
• Family or friends – especially if they are working.
How to apply for a jobThe usual methods of applying for a job are:–
METHOD
|
|
The Internet
|
More and more people are advertising job vacancies and finding suitable employment via the internet.
|
Fill in an application form.
|
Practise first! Be particular about spelling, handwriting, punctuation, etc. Make sure your form is neat and tidy when completed.
|
Write a letter.
|
As above. Try to get good quality writing paper and
envelopes. Include an information sheet see below.
|
Visit the local JobCentre and apply through them.
|
Job details will be discussed and interview arrangements will be made for you.
|
Keep a record of where you have applied to It is advisable to keep a record of all the places you have applied to. This might be kept in a notebook, with pages divided into columns under the following headings:–
Name of firm/address/email address/website/phone number;
Job title;
When you applied;
Result.
Information Sheet This is also known as a Curriculum Vitae (CV). See 'Writing a CV’ also in this section.
It will contain the following information:–
NAME: AGE: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: EMAIL ADDRESS: EDUCATION: WORK EXPERIENCE: EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS I CAN USE: INTERESTS: REFERENCES: You may send your CV with a formal letter of application, but do not state the same facts twice.
SUMMARY If you need further help, or have not decided what you would like to apply for, contact your Careers Adviser, who will be glad to help. A free typing service for CVs is offered by the:
Centre for the Unemployed, 45-47 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2FG.
Tel: 028 9096 1111. Fax: 028 9096 1110. E-mail: info@burc.org Website:
www.burc.org Some useful websites:–
www.jobcentreonline.com Contains all the JobCentres’ current vacancies. In partnership with the Social Security Agency, the site also has details of work related benefits. Contains some useful links.
www.jobsite.co.uk Advertisers from most major industry sectors
www.gisajob.com Contract and permanent jobs from Agencies
www.nistr.org.uk Northern Ireland substitute teacher register
www.jobsin.co.uk U.K vacancies and professional appointments
www.nijobs.com Direct access to employment vacancies in Northern Ireland.
www.irishjobs.ie Access to vacancies across all disciplines in Ireland.
www.recruitni.com Portal for N.I. Jobs
www.orangejobs.com A graduate recruitment website
www.prospects.csu.ac.uk Guide to graduate jobs, careers and postgraduate study. Each profile includes information about the employer.
www.monster.co.uk Online resource for careers and job hunting covering European and global jobs.