Getting A Job

GETTING A JOB

Getting a part-time job while studying can be empowering. It’s an opportunity to ease some of the financial pressures of student life – living in Australia can be expensive, and working is a necessity for many students.

However, it can also be a daunting experience. Unfortunately, there is no 100% guaranteed formula for landing a job – but the tips below may help you succeed in finding part-time work alongside your studies!

Looking for work and applying

Looking for Work:

The best place to find opportunities is online, on websites such as Seek.com.au.

Curtin Careers offers the Earn While You Learn program, which is an opportunity for Curtin students to find employment opportunities at Curtin. Head to the Earn While You Learn page on the University website to find out more.

You could also consider linking in with recruitment firms, which can take some of the hassle out of job searching.

Applying for Jobs:

Most job applications should now be lodged online, as the initial hiring processes are usually now managed by Human Resources teams instead of local managers. The old “walk round the shopping centre and give your resume to every store” technique is becoming less and less effective – in most businesses your resume will be filed and never read, or just put straight in the bin.

If you go to a business and they tell you to apply online, do that. Unfortunately most managers are just too busy to interview you on the spot.

Most applications will require a cover letter and resume. We have some tips below on how to strengthen these.

Cover Letters and Resumes

Cover Letters:

In the last few years it’s become common for employers to request a cover letter with all job applications. When you’re writing a cover letter, make sure it is specific to the job you’re applying for.

There is NO requirement to include personal information in a resume or cover letter. Do not include:

Your home address
Your photo
Your marital status
Your age

Make sure your email address is professional. If you still have your “quirky” Hotmail address from when you were 12 years old, it might be time to make a new one.

Seek has a cover letter template you can check out.

Resumes:

While the function of your resume is to provide a broad overview of your skills and employment history (if you have one), it’s still important to ensure it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for work in a supermarket, a focus on your skills in the Adobe Creative Suite is unlikely to be considered relevant.

If you’re having trouble getting started, try this:

Explain how your experience aligns to the job requirements
Outline your achievements
Use key words from the job advertisement

You can find some decent resume templates as part of Microsoft Word, or on Seek.

Interviews

Arrive on time!! Punctuality is essential in the workplace. If being late for your interview is unavoidable, let the interviewers know as soon as possible. We spoke to former managers when we wrote this page, and they told us that if someone was late for an interview without warning, it almost always ruled them out for consideration for the job.

Dress for success (within reason – for example there’s no need to wear a tie to an interview for a fast food restaurant).

Be friendly – smile! And remember to maintain open body language.

Everybody knows that there’s a cost-of-living crisis on – chances are the manager interviewing you is also struggling – but don’t let any desperation or urgency come through in your interview. Focus on what you will bring to the workplace. Everybody has something great to offer!

Check out this video from Seek about how to answer common interview questions.

Help with Cover Letters, Resumes, and Career Questions

The Curtin Careers Team offers several services to support students looking for work.

Walk-In Sessions:

Curtin Careers consultants are available for walk-in sessions from 12pm-2pm each Wednesday during semester. You can find more information about specific dates on UniHub. For more in-depth feedback, you might like to consider sending your resume and cover letter through to careers@curtin.edu.au or booking in a Careers Conversation.

Careers Conversation:

You can book Careers Conversations with the Curtin Careers team. These can cover anything from a resume and cover letter review to further-reaching planning for your future professional life.

VMock:

Curtin Careers offers the online VMock service, where you can upload your resume and receive instant feedback about it. You can also upload a job ad for more targeted feedback.

Earn While You Learn

The Earn While You Learn program is an opportunity for Curtin students to find employment opportunities at Curtin. Head to the Earn While You Learn page on the University website to find out more.

CONTACT STUDENT ASSIST

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Please include your name, student number, course of study and a description of your query.

Email: student.assist@guild.curtin.edu.au
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