Blog

We all know first impressions count, and we’re all guilty of judging a book by its cover when it comes to relationships or picking a place to eat or especially where we’re going to work. This is true for employers as well and the first impression you make has a significant impact on the rest of your interactions with them. Whether this is going for an interview, handing in a resume or even doing a voluntary work placement in their workplace; no matter the situation considering how you come across is an easy way to start ahead.

But how can you make a good impression no matter what? Check out our simple tips and try them out!

1. Seek out the right person straight away

While when you go into a business to hand in a resume it seems easier to drop it into whoever is at the counter, asking for the Manager, Owner or Supervisor to hand it to them leaves a lasting impression. This also gives you the opportunity to talk about your availability or even say something short about why you’d like to work in this particular business. If you’re heading to the site for an interview or work placement, don’t just expect whoever you see first to know who you are or why you’re there. Make sure you introduce yourself and say why you’re there. If you know the name of your interviewer or supervisor tell them that also! Sound scary? Try starting with “Hello, My name is Adam and I’m here to see Jodie for an interview for the carpentry apprenticeship.”

2. Greet with a handshake, a smile and eye contact

Want to come across confident and warm even if you’re not feeling it? This is the way! Greeting people you meet with a handshake and a smile, and comfortably looking them in the eye starts things on a professional level and is always a respectful way to introduce yourself. Generally, you’d exchange name over the handshake, or perhaps if you’ve just been introduced go for a ‘nice to meet you’ handshake.

3. Be on time

Simple but massively impressive, turning up not only on time but 5 minutes early shows that you care about the opportunity. If you’re late to the interview or to your placement, the association is immediately made that you will be late for work if employed. Ensuring you leave extra time to get to a place for a first appointment, trial, interview or the like will put you in better stead that turning quoting a late bus or traffic – even if these things are the true reason you’re late.

4. Dress appropriately and professionally

This doesn’t mean going out of your way to become a different person, but simply adhering to the dress standard of the place you’re visiting or job you’re interviewing for. Try speaking to the reception before your interview to ascertain the dress code, or call your placement supervisor for a guideline or even visit the shop or café to see what their staff wear.

There are many other ways to make a great first impression, but starting with these simple tips will get you in the door and give you a positive platform to win that job.

So you’ve got some gaps in your resume? Maybe you had a false start after graduating school, or you had to drop out because of family issues, or you lost your job and found it hard to pick right up again. Whatever the reasons we drop off for a little while, they can impact our confidence as we search for a job. Having gaps doesn’t necessarily make you worse off than the other candidates, but you can be smart about how you address these gaps in an interview.

1. You lost your job, and it wasn’t amicable.

It can be really difficult and embarrassing to talk about getting fired, but no matter what happened there, there are positive lessons you can speak about to show your future employer how great you’ll be for their company. Make sure not to badmouth your previous company, boss or coworkers, but focus on what you achieved or learnt while you were there. You can do this even if you left on bad terms!

Don’t Say

“The work sucked and my boss had it in for me from day one! I would’ve left anyway, they didn’t deserve to have to work for them”

Do Say

“Unfortunately I was laid off from this job, due to changes in the company structure. While I was there, I learnt a variety of skills that will help me in this role [the one you’re applying for]. This included [insert relevant skills] communication with other team members, managing an individual workload and being punctual to work and meetings.”

2. You had health issues and had to take time off

Your future employer doesn’t need a play-by-play of how your mental health prevented you from working or why a stupid accident left you needing surgery. It’s not that they don’t care where you’ve come from, but that they need to know where you’re at now. Prepare a concise and straightforward explanation that you are comfortable to share with them. Make sure you speak about how proud you were to overcome these health issues but don’t dwell too much on what was and move on to what you can bring to their business now.

Don’t Say

“Yeah stuff was really bad, I had depression and couldn’t leave the house, I attempted suicide 5 times and I really didn’t want to do anything. I’m still struggling with this.”

Do Say

“I took some time out [or ‘I was slow to get into the workforce’] to focus on my health and [learn strategies to manage my mental health/go through rehab after an operation]. Now I’m ready to get [back] into the workforce. The challenge to overcome these health issues has made me a stronger and more resilient person, so I know I can tackle the challenges in this role and achieve.”

3. You had to take care of your family or had family pressure to stay out of work

Family is a huge thing, and helping them out is a tough job that builds a huge range of skills you can now use in whatever job you get! No future employer should fault you for taking care of your family or sticking by them. The loyalty to put others before yourself only reflects well on you. Make sure you tell your interviewer how excited you are to commit yourself to your job now that you can.

Don’t Say

“I was forced by my family to stay home to look after my Dad after the accident. It was a pain cos I only had to cos no one else wanted to.”

Do Say

“Due to the situation with my parent/grandparent/child, I decided being home to care for them was my top priority. I learnt lots of skills during this time, including how to push through challenges and get things done. Now I’m in a position to move into work and I’m looking forward to applying these skills and experiences in the workplace.”

Don’t forget – it’s never a good idea to lie on your resume and pretend you haven’t been out of work for a period. Embrace your history with grace and be positive about how you are moving forward!

At Schools Industry Partnership (SIP), in mid-March, 11 Year 12 Work Placement students from various schools came to be involved in an exciting new initiative – Project Blitz. The large group of students were hosted altogether by SIP to simulate a small team-based workplace. Students were given different task lists relative to their different disciplines and assigned a supervisor for the week from the SIP staff.

Students were instrumental in clearing a large volume of work that had been pushed back many times due to other priorities. Projects included such things as updating and configuring all staff computers and tablets, creating a 2019 calendar for our Work Placement management, updating the staff phone list, coming up with designs for our expo stalls, doing IT testing and designing T-shirts for job seeking.

As a part of Project Blitz, SIP also hosted 3 ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions with Inspiring the Future Australia speakers. We were privileged to hear from Amanda Jackson from LG Electronics, John Matthews from I Finance and Scott Knight from Classic Home Improvements.

All speakers came from different backgrounds and shared different stories and experiences. The students especially appreciated hearing about Amanda’s experience failing school and how that hasn’t stopped her from hearing big money and travelling the world now; how John helps his clients invest their money and move from Pizza delivery guy to millionaire investor and the pros and cons of contracting versus being an employee from Scott.

Thanks to all the students and speakers involved in our first ever Project Blitz! We look forward to having an even bigger and better Blitz next time.

advantage as the first step.” Shane also emphasized the need to find your passion, saying, “Find that thing inside that spurs you on and it’ll take you places. You might want to make jewellery but if you start working in a jewellery shop, that will take you onward.”

This year Schools Industry Partnership has been successfully running the Transition to Work Service and Work Placement program throughout 2017, and also launched Inspiring the Future Australia in April and began the NSW State Government funded service Smart, Skilled & Hired in September. Check out our graphic to see how far we’ve come in 2017, thanks for all your support – we look forward to an even great 2018!

On the 8th of January 2018, NSW Minister for Western Sydney the Hon. Stuart Ayres MP officially opened our new Smart, Skilled & Hired (SS&H) employment service. Both young people involved in the program and their job coaches took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony with the Hon. Stuart Ayres MP. The launch took place in our newly renovated SIP shop in Penrith, one of three sites that help young people get full-time work through personal coaching.

After busily finishing the refurbishments on the shop last week, we’re excited to have had the Minister come and help us make it official! He was excited to share that “good things are happening in this part of the world” and “programs like yours will help young people make the transition, while on our side we’re driving growth and development to create more jobs.“

The Smart, Skilled and Hired – Youth Employment Program is a $65 million NSW Government Program to address youth unemployment by assisting young people (15 to 24 years) to help them overcome employment barriers, and get them into sustainable jobs. This includes assisting them in overcoming a variety of difficulties such as mental health or transport; as well as helping them in gaining skills and experience that will improve their long-term job and living standard prospects.

SS&H was created by the NSW Government to fill the gap for many young people outside of benefits, struggling to get a job or get enough hours, due to a variety of issues. The NSW Government saw a unique opportunity to help bridge the gap between school and greater employment and assist young people in getting the skills to build their own sustainable future.

This service is perfect for school-leavers (even HSC graduates) who just need a helping hand to get into the full-time workforce – and it’s all completely free!

As a part of the service we have three different sites where we facilitate training and coaching for young people, Penrith, Windsor and Springwood.

All sites are open Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm and walk-ins to the service are welcome!

1. Watch other employee behaviour and be discerning

   While often the behaviour of more established employees can teach you lots about what needs to be done and how to overcome obstacles in a workplace, often this can teach bad habits as well. Be mindful when copying the methods or taking the suggestions of other employees. If you have a gut feeling that something might not be okay – don’t do it and find another way!

2. Ask for opportunities to learn more

    

   If there’s something you don’t know that it would be useful for you to know, don’t be shy about asking how to do something. By learning every process and job you can, you increase your flexibility to get things done quickly and without intervention in the workplace. Be mindful of when you ask, however, quiet times are generally times for learning and busy times are usually times to do what you can to help.

3. Take note of every answer and instruction you get

   Never have to ask the same questions twice and you’ll learn how to work autonomously very quickly. Don’t just ask what is next to do, ask how you do it best and make sure you understand the whole process.

4. Don’t be afraid to suggest ideas, even if they’re not chosen

   Being a 5-star employee means being willing to try and fail. When a problem is being solved within your team, be bold in suggesting ideas! Even if your idea doesn’t get selected, taking the initiative and thinking of an option is a worthwhile part of the process, and demonstrates your willingness to get things done and solves issues quickly.

5. Take opportunities to be invaluable

   Don’t be afraid to take on a role or job that makes you invaluable to your employer. Being profitable and productive means that letting you go would damage the business! Take on new responsibility if it’s offered or invent something you can be an expert in that helps everyone!