Preparing for an Online job

It's only been 11 years since I took my first steps into the workplace - from a McDonalds to the city steps of the Opera House.

I've had numerous jobs - I remember juggling three of them while at Uni, trying to make ends meet. The Northern Rivers offered me unique opportunities that you couldn't get in the big smoke - like talking computer on ABC radio and writing for a newspaper like The Echo. I've conducted employment interviews and there are always lessons to be learned.

In some ways it's easier to get a job in the Northern Rivers region because word of mouth works really well, but as things get tighter and competition harder, how you prepare and apply for a job becomes important.

I've been surprised and disappointed by the applications we've received for jobs advertised online. Submitting an application online is not what it's cut out to be.

While many organisations have moved towards accepting online applications, keep in mind that ultimately you'll be dealing with a panel, which most likely still regards letter writing as showing effort. Don't be fooled into thinking that a quick and fast email is the same thing - there's a big difference between the generally sloppier emails and the presentation in a letter.

I know of several people who applied for jobs online, but supplemented their electronic application with one through the post. Though I'm not an employment expert, there are some things you should do to increase your chances of getting that job:

1) Always ask for the information pack. It often contains relevant and extended information on the position and the organisation, and it can only be to your advantage. Most organisations will not have all the material in electronic format. For government jobs, there are often forms to fill in and sign - they won't tell you and you won't know until you get the information pack. If they have a telephone number, phone them.

2) Attempt to always supplement any email correspondence with a written, posted copy. In some rare cases, especially for dot.coms (and look what happened to them - there's another lesson...) they only want an online application, but having two copies doesn't hurt.

3) If the job is orientated towards technology or IT, make the effort to go to their website to gain extra information about the organisation.

4) Because you send an application online, does not mean your language or style of writing should be any less formal than you would use in a normal, written application.

5) Go through the selection criteria carefully and split up the requirements into meaningful sections you can sequentially answer. This is extremely important for public service jobs and many private organisations with Best Practice for employment. They will basically have a check sheet to see whether you've answered and met each selection criteria, if not you're tossed out in the first round.

Don't slack off and say I'll just post this and see what happens. Just because it's convenient, doesn't mean effort is not required. You have a serious chance if you do make the effort to at least follow the above steps.

Generally speaking many people who have the necessary skills just don't make the interview stage because they throw their hat in halfheartedly and leave the rest to fate. As you write more CVs you'll start getting the same old questions - it pays to store them in a large template.

It is also useful to get feedback from the potential employer when you don't get the job. Though they are generally polite and try not to hurt your feelings, you can ask them specifics about what they were looking for and work towards shaping your CV for future opportunities.

Good luck.

Updates

Not long ago, I mentioned the possibility of MP3 players in a car sound system. A UK company called EMPEG was the first to bring one out (and was recently taken over). In Australia, Kenwood now sells a new range of MP3 car stereos just over $1,000. They're much more convenient than stackers if you have a CD burner.

Last week I wrote about Penpal sites. To test them, I did a posting and mailfriends.com came up trumps, with the largest number of correspondence. In fact it was so much, I had to request my addition to be removed. Get writing!

Hot News

The latest fad in electronic devices works on your brain waves to give you a new lease of life and motivation. The devices have been so successful that both the US Olympic Committee and the Canadian National Olympics Sports Centre, as well as several universities, are looking into them. Many believe that when it comes to sporting excellence, we are coming close to our physical limits, and the last barrier is the mind. Visit www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/079352.htm to find out more.

I recently subscribed to ShopFast, and my mobile phone was sent an SMS welcoming me. Under proposed privacy legislation, companies will have to first ask customers if they would like to be called (but we're not sure if they'll be calling to ask...).

Although Napster claims it's still in there with a fighting chance, it's interesting to note that while its listing once contained between 2,400 to 6,000 gigabytes of files, now it's in triple figures most of the time - around 800 gig. The reason is that following the court ruling, they've been clamping down on the names of famous artists, at their request, to filter them out.

The Kiwis are definitely having economic problems - to raise money they are auctioning a hike up the mountains with their Prime Minister Helen Clark (who, if I remember correctly, held the Olympic Torch back to front). But it's all for a good cause raising money for a community house. A group of volunteers have put up for auction what they call the 'Ultimate experience' where things like having 6 holes of golf with their leading golf player or fishing in some of the best lakes by celebrity fisherman are auctioned off to the highest bidder.

In the US, following studies that found bartenders were giving too many freebies - an average of 4 drinks are not accounted for in every 700ml spirit bottle - manufacturers have invented the Plug and Pour computerised drink pourer. It not only counts the number of glasses you hand out, but also how much of the drink you're pouring into a schooner.

Hotlinks

www.beautylink.com/

I've been told that my links are often gender-biased. Hopefully a couple of URLs in the right direction will help female readers forgive my sins. If looking gorgeous matters to you (and that includes you lads) then The Beauty Link offers hints and tips on make up, skin treatment and hair colouring.

http://razzberry.chickclick.-com/

Now without getting into too much trouble, I suggest women love to have long discussions about most topics. No topic remains too elusive. At chickclick it's like a big discussion group with postings about the stuff women want to talk about.

www.todayswoman.com.pk/

This site has a few images, so it may take a bit of time to load, but basically this site is dedicated to today's women (or a glossy magazine's vision of today's women..) - fashion, beauty, career and so on they review people who have made statements in their areas.

www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/3696/index.html

Although I ask for the same haircut every time, my barber always manages to make me look different. My theory is that barbers are even more random than computers. Fear not, you can visit this place and learn the Barber lingo and visit the hair gallery to find that magic haircut you've been looking for.

www.abcsearchengine.com/

The ABC Search engine is an excellent portal with a wide range of listings on varied topics and steering you to quality sites.