The Recruiter's Blog

by Alan Charman

"If you want to get the inside oil on New Zealand employment (and social!) conditions, forget the Department of Labour and newspapers, read this blog!"

 

 

13 August 2009

As noted in my previous blog (below), we are starting to see some green shoots, but that doesn't mean all will automatically be ok in the short term.

It's still quite obvious that there are many, many people who cannot find a job.

In particular, those laid off from within the building industry are doing it very tough. I have been approached by dozens of candidates this week who have been earning excellent money in the building caper, but who are now scratching around to find any job which provides an income.

One thread they have in common is that they will take any old money to get into work, and while this seems a sensible plan, it just isn't working for most of them.

Why is that?

When looking for permanent staff, an employer is going to be highly sceptical of hiring someone who is taking a 40% pay drop. The strong likelihood is that, once building starts to return to normal, the employee will leave for more money. This has been borne out time and again over many years, and it's logical that someone capable of earning $30 an hour isn't going to hang around earning $20 when he/she can get the $30 again.

How can this resistance be overcome?

If you're stuck in this kind of spiral, the very best thing you can do is be honest about your intentions and try to find casual or contract work, or a job with a finite period.

It was very noticeable that part-time and contract roles were the highest growth area in the last Labour Survey, so those kind of jobs do exist. It may not be easy finding them, but spending time looking will probably prove more fruitful than applying for jobs you can't get.

One last thing - if an employer tells you "No", it's sensible to take the no and move on. I'm finding a lot of people wasting their time (and mine) by arguing why they should be hired once they've been told "no thanks".

I can't think of many situations where you will help yourself by trying to change someone's mind at that stage, and it seems to me a little contrary that when so many people complain about not being given a "no thanks" call or e mail that they then complain when given [for them] the wrong answer. This is just a waste of time and effort, and if getting a job takes so much effort - as it does right now - you should be saving the efforts for productive things.

 

24 July 2009

I think we're finally seeing those green shoots that Bollard, Bernanke and all the other central bankers whose names begin with B have been promising.

Business confidence is up. Still low, but improving.

Some businesses are definitely increasing turnover.

Immigration and returning emigres are bringing money into the country and bolstering the real estate market.

There are more jobs available.

I can't stress enough the need to be creative when applying for jobs, but do it properly! I am getting lots of applications for jobs where the applicant has no suitable experience whatsoever. That's not necessarily a problem, but if you're trying to move into a new industry, you must at least attach a cover letter explaining why you're wanting to change industries, why you think you'll be able to do so, and what kind of help you'd need to make a go of it.

Please, think about your job applications before you send them.

It's easy to send an e mail and hope, but you'll improve your chances exponentially if you show some forethought. Some really good tips on how to apply for jobs are just below.

 

14 July 2009

Give Blood!

The national blood banks are always short of supplies during winter, and things are especially bad this year.

If you have 'flu - and 60-80% of us are expected to get swine 'flu - you are counted out for weeks, and if you've had a stomach virus, you're out for three months.

Blood supplies are now critical in several areas.

If you are over 16 years of age and over 50kg, you can almost certainly give blood.

It is almost painless and you will save lives by giving blood. Heart and other operations and burn victims need our blood or they will die.

Act now, before you get the 'flu, and if you're a first time donor, e mail us your name and we'll draw out one of you for a dinner for two!

I have donated >50 units of blood.

 

Employment Blog - Updated 8 July 2009 - (if you're looking for a job, this is the best advice you're going to find...)

One thing has become obvious in recent weeks:

Many tradesmen are out of work, and lots more are working reduced hours. The conditions have changed 180 degrees in under 12 months, with jobs now scarce and candidates plentiful.

What can you do to maximise your chances of getting a good job?

Have an excellent cv. Many of the cvs I receive are ok in content, but poor in style, while some stylish ones have poor content! Here's a basic one to use if you don't have one.

The key is to briefly describe your experience and strengths, but do so without typos and spelling mistakes. If you'd like a free appraisal of whether your cv is up to the task or not, send us a copy here and we'll let you know!

Don't include a whole lot of personal aspirations, or cover your school sporting achievements - unless they are national record/Schoolboy All Black status.

Once your cv is in good condition, you need to apply for jobs you can do, and preferably close to home - employers recognise that most employees don't want to be commuting for hours a day and that short-term employment often results, and that's something no employer wants to see.

Try to ring first if a phone contact is listed - although if the contact is adamant that they don't want to know, don't be pushy. Confidence is good, arrogance is awful.

If you include a cover letter - and I think it's always a good idea to do so - make sure it is short and to the point:

"I am applying for .................

I have x years of experience in this field and am looking for a long-term opportunity in your area.

Thank you for considering my application."

To a recruiter or employer, that is easy, to the point and shows confidence in your skills - you haven't grovelled or sold yourself up, and it means the attached cv will be opened.

I advise yet again, Be Creative!

If you have a job in mind which you think you can do, but haven't ever done, by all means, apply for it! In those cases, it's really important that you have a brief cover letter including your reasons for the desire for that job.

Amend the above to include:

"I have a good understanding of the processes of a .................. and feel that my existing skills in lathework/needlepoint/croquet/................. will easily transfer to this kind of job."

The interview.

If you're good enough to proceed to interview stage, then you must make sure you present and sound good enough to get the job, and there are some simple rules to make your interview more likely to succeed.

Be on time! Being late for the interview is unforgivable. I don't care if you got stuck in traffic or the bus was late, a smart candidate will be on time by leaving early and waiting for the time of interview. Turning up for your interview five minutes early is ideal. If you're too early, have a cuppa while you wait - nowhere in the city is more than 200m from a cafe.

Maintain eye contact! People like to feel you're honest and easy to talk to.

Don't smoke beforehand! Being a smoker probably won't stop you being hired, but reeking of smoke will. So will having fags in your shirt pocket.

Have a bloody haircut! And even more so if the job is one where machinery's in use.

Wear nice [and clean] clothes! Even if you're going for a job as a dustie, you're probably not going to get interviewed on the back of the truck, and pissing off the office lady by dropping shit all over her carpet isn't likely to get you hired - think about things beforehand.

Don't appear desperate! A desperate candidate is a bad candidate.

Get rid of things sticking through your face! Nobody's going to not hire you because your face isn't pierced by random pieces of metal, but plenty of employers won't hire you if you turn up to your interview looking like an advertisement for barbed wire. These things often are no problem in a work situation, but it isn't a way of creating a good impression. I always suggest candidates even remove earrings at interviews.

Think about what you're going to say and how you're going to answer questions! There's no easy rule here, unfortunately - many employers use the interview process to disqualify rather than qualify candidates, so what you say is crucial. There are too many things in this to be covered briefly, but slagging off past employers and workmates, and any reference to personal issues are strictly no-go areas.

Be confident! Confident that you can do a good job, be a valuable employee and worth your wages. Cockiness isn't confidence.

Good luck!

 

If you have more questions, or would like any advice at all, talk to us anytime on Auckland 5799111 or ask a question at Trademe job board, where The Recruiter is usually available to answer queries.

 

15 June 2009

What is it with the National Party and comb overs?

First Don Brash, now John Key!

Is there a worse fashion statement than combing one's hair over a bald spot?

Come on, Johnny, shave your head like a man!

 

5 June 2009

Just one very funny one today - a new meaning for the word "alligator" courtesy of John Key:

A person who makes an allegation.

Seriously, this inability to speak properly melds well with Key's inability to do due diligence on his cabinet colleagues - see the National Party corruption report here.

How typically National that someone who has made a lot of money from currency trading and has a traditional Nat comb-over would be picked as leader. Picked as leader in spite of having no track record in politics, and as it turns out, no political ability whatsoever.

How's that bikeway going, John?

Was that just an alligator making those comments? Or are we just seeing crocodile tears from a dick who failed in his due diligence yet again.

 

 

More blogs, letters, essays and other stuff from Alan Charman

 

Home