• Get ready for your career in science
• You and the job you want
• Employers and the labour market
  • Overview of labour market for scientists
  • Industries that employ science graduates
  • Occupations for science graduates
  • Where do employers advertise jobs?
  • What do employers seek in a science graduate?
  • How do employers assess your skills?
• Practical Skills to Find Work
• Useful Resources

Employers and the Labour Market

Where do employers advertise jobs?

It is not unusual for employers to use a number of methods concurrently to advertise their job vacancies. 

Some of the ways employers promote their job opportunities are:

• Internet Job Boards – on-line systems that enable you to match yourself to job vacancies.  Some offer the opportunity to register and receive e-mail alerts for jobs in your field of interest.

TIP! Jobs On-line provides a listing of jobs for graduates as well as other employment opportunities. As part of on-campus campaigns employers will deliver presentations to students on their organisation and graduate programs.  Keep checking the above website for current details.



• Newspapers - major newspapers have employment sections in both on-line and print formats.  They can also be informative on current issues in various industries.

TIP! Try Career One for positions advertised in “The Australian” newspaper. “The Age” newspaper employment classifieds can be found in MyCareer.



• Journals or magazines offer employers an opportunity to reach jobseekers with specific experience and qualifications through a targeted approach.

TIP! The New Scientist is an example of a magazine that includes a jobs search section.



• Recruitment Agencies – Employers may use an agency to undertake the early stages of a staff selection process making them the first point of contact for information on some jobs.
  
  

  Recruitment agencies can also be a source of job matching services. These agencies register your details which are then held and matched to jobs that come up in the future. Systems can vary from a computer based matching service that requires you to place your resume on-line, to an interview with a recruitment consultant to determine if that agency can assist you through its’ placement services.
  
  Agencies can be generalist offering services to diverse industry sectors, or specialist, tailoring service to niche market areas.

   

TIP! A listing of recruitment companies and consultancies can be found on the website of Recruitment and Consulting Services of Australia. Search under science/technology or health/medical/pharmaceutical sectors in the Membership Directory to find potential agencies.



• Professional associations – some provide a job advertisement section or have links to relevant employer websites and may provide information on topical issues in a profession.

TIP! Check the list of professional associations provided in the Useful Resources section as a starting point.



• Employer websites –many employer websites include a section on jobs and careers, some providing information specifically for graduates.
• Networks - as a job seeker, building relationships with others can prove to be a helpful leverage in the job seeking stakes.  Employers use networks to be introduced to candidates who are proactive in their job search.
• Self canvassing/direct approaches to employers – some employers are open to unsolicited contact from interested job seekers and will accept resumes as an ongoing application for work even when a position has not been advertised.

TIP! The Practical Skills to Find Work section of these guidelines provides advice for  using these techniques as a job seeker including how the to use the Hidden Job market to your advantage..