Qantas offers real opportunities

A focus on networking, business rotation opoprtunities and real-life projects, Qantas offers grads a strong career start.

Opportunity abounds at Arup

With offices in over 37 countries, the world is an oyster for design, engineering and construction grads.

Career research gets 'aLife'

A new multimedia project promises “a day in the life” experience so you can see what a particular job role might offer you without leaving your school classroom or office.

Risky business - Breaking into…

Breaking into the industry of your dreams as a university graduate can be tricky, particularly if you don't have the right contacts or relevant experience.

How to survive probation

Approaching your new career's probation period the right way can help stop you from getting the boot.

Interpersonal skills

It's not uncommon to see the phrase "interpersonal skills" in a job ad. Read on to find out what the phrase means and if you have what is being asked for. Laura wants to know what "interpersonal...

References and Referees

Keeping in touch You should always let your referees know when you are going for a new job. Not only is it courteous to do so, but it also gives you an opportunity to prime your referee about the...

Job-hunting etiquette

Many Ask Kate readers write in with questions surrounding the do's and don'ts of job-hunting. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions. Is it okay to call the day after the...

Simple writing works

Jargon and complex language are tiresome, confusing and impress no one, writes Sophie Toomey For most people, writing is part of a working day. Lawyers, accountants, engineers, finance...

Labouring the point

Vocational education is finally being recognised as a viable alternative for Australian school leavers, writes Marianne Betts and Daniel Hoy. For a long time, university was seen as the best...

Write way to get a job

Job seekers who send potential employers a handwritten thank you note after an interview are more likely to be hired, a survey of bosses found. The OfficeTeam recruitment firm survey found 88 per...

Standing out from the crowd

Standing apart from the crowd during a job search requires more than just a natty suit and a firm handshake. Hudson manager (sales, marketing and communication) Scott Horton said that learning to...

Persistence pays off

It took Mathew Heaver six months and 35 rejection letters before he landed his first graduate role - but he admits it was worth the wait. All it took was a flight from Melbourne to Brisbane on...

Don’t ruin your chances of…

Communication skills are so important when you apply for a job. Desiree D'Costa reports. The key to a good job interview is strong communication skills, but if it's not done properly people can...

Honesty is the best policy

With good admin/secretarial skills and a keen attitude, Annette has a lot to offer an employer. However, what she would like in return is flexible hours that allow her to leave by 3pm each...

Monitors to deter cheating…

AN assessment company has been forced to add monitoring software to its online job application tests to deter cheaters. New techniques to stop the cheats include web-tracking software to ensure...

Cinderella Candidates

I've received a great many emails from people frustrated by the fact they're not receiving replies of any kind to job applications let alone invitations to interview. However, on reading the whole

How to research the job market

When you are starting to get itchy feet and long for a new challenge, there is several ways to research the current job scene. Advertised job searching  This is the simplest way to test the...

Lessons from the job hunt

Many job hunters still trying to land a job ask me where they are going wrong. Well, without meeting them it's hard to say but where a candidate falls off the list during the recruitment process...

Advice for first time job seekers

Getting started is a bit of a pain and getting a "decent" job can involve some pain before you get the gain. We now have 10 million people in the workforce and every one of those people had to get

Research tools

I've made an interesting discovery - Career Information Centres. Federally funded these "one-stop career shops" are open to all Australians, not just those registered for benefits.   You can...

Do your homework

I attended a breakfast where Australian advertising and media boss John Singleton was speaking about success. Mr Singleton said he was "embarrassed" that he should be asked to talk on such a...

Strengths and weaknesses

Navigating the minefield Don't you just hate that moment in a job interview when you're asked to name your strengths and weaknesses? Many of you want to know how to handle this potential minefield