Get on the job

Make a plan for your job.

If you know where you want your career to go, you're more likely to find the right job.

Sit down and write a plan that explains who you are as a professional, what you need in a job (such as career growth and flexible hours), and what companies you'd like to work for. Keep your plan with you when you apply for jobs so you can see how well they fit with your plan. You might find that they aren't really worth your time to apply for.

Brush up on your resume.

Every time you change jobs, it's easy to just add a few lines to your resume, but if you want to find a job that's as different as possible from the weekend shift work you did in high school, it's time to give your resume a makeover.

It needs to look more professional and polished than the ones you used in the beginning of your career. It also needs to summarize your best roles and experiences in a one- to two-page document. Don't be precious about it; make it show who you are as a professional now.

Use the Internet to its fullest.

Today, more people find jobs online than anywhere else. So many people use SEEK, which is the most popular job site in Australia and New Zealand. How can you get the most out of it?

Set up SEEK JobMail alerts so you're the first to know when new jobs in your industry are posted. Also, make sure your SEEK profile is filled out so potential employers can see your skills, experience, and what you're looking for in your next job. The more information you put on your SEEK profile, the easier it is for the right employers to find you.

Sign up for recruiters.

If you need more help finding jobs, it's often a good idea to talk to recruiters who work in the field you're interested in. Most recruiters have a registration process that involves an interview, showing your resume and/or portfolio of work, and filling out your information for their database.

Even though this can sometimes seem like a bit of a process, it's in the best interest of recruiters to place their candidates in the roles they've been given, so don't be afraid to sign up!

Connect with the people you know.

Many people think that to network, you have to go to special events in your field and meet and talk to new people. This is often true, but networking can also be as simple as telling your friends, family, past employers and colleagues, and contacts on online professional networks that you're looking for a new job.

Prepare and practice.

To apply for jobs and do interviews, you need to do a lot of practice and planning. Make sure that for every resume you send, you call or email the person to ask for a job interview. Once you've gotten an interview, learn more about the industry, role, and company, and make a list of all the reasons why you'd be a good fit for the job.

Ask a friend or family member to help you practice for a real interview. Get them to ask you hard questions and repeat your answers over and over until you know them by heart. So, when you go to the real interview, you'll have the confidence you need to move on.