Something I learned recently...

NEVER take a midnight flight after slaving in the office the whole day.

And ...

if you do, NEVER pick a middle seat especially when the two people sitting next to you are strangers bigger than you!

Believe me, I was there, did just that and it was a terrible experience. I don't know how miners who do the 'flying in flying out' do it week in week out though. I suppose when you are going home after a week or two in the outback, a little discomfort will not dampen the home going spirit :-)

Last Wednesday I attended a job interview for an Expression of Interest I put in for, effectively ending a silent (you thought you're in control until you find that you don't sleep well at night, you have pimples popping up your face etc etc) stressful month. Oh yes, applying for a job is indeed stressful especially if the job is a government one. How come? Well, here is what you need to do:

* prepare a resume. You need to tailor your resume to fit the job you're applying for, meaning don't include ALL your work history, or anything not relevant.

*address the selection criteria mentioned on the ad.
Selection Criteria?? Well, basically they give you a set of job criteria to write about, e.g interpersonal skills, organisational and time management skills etc. You will need to explain why you are good in these areas, and substantiate your claims with real-life examples. So, if you are addressing interpersonal skills you will need to tell how great your interpersonal skills are, give examples, sell your good points in other words. Now, this is often the most stressful part! How do I project myself? What relevant examples do I have? It's just like writing an essay question I suppose. You need to have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Sometimes you might have a good example but how do you word your example to make it most relevant. You need to study the job description ,then think about the examples you have. Relevant?? Yes? Ok can use. The most popular method to use is the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. It's one thing to say you are good, it's another to describe just what you have done to illustrate that you are indeed good. Unlike writing an essay question though, you only have about 1/2 page to address each criteria. Sometimes, if the job is of a higher level, e.g a Manager's position, they might ask for a page a criteria. In other words, your answer has to be short and sweet.... and precise of course.

* submit your resume and selection criteria write up before closing time. I usually finished mine a few hours before closing time.. hahaha... I usually work well under stress.. :-)

* then you wait... for the phone call. If you are successful you get one :-) If you are not, well, you keep on waiting until the 'we're sorry to inform you..'letter comes.

* now if you're successful, then you will attend an interview and this is where you get your second chance to sell yourself :-) 20 mins before that, you will be given a set of interview questions. Yes, they are generous :-) They let you know what you will be asked during the interview. Now if only they email you those questions a day before, that would have been better!!!! :-) But that would just give the suspense away now, wouldn't it??? Oh no, 20 mins is good enough, 20 mins of last minute stress. You scribble as fast as you can. You rack your brain for other examples, preferably those you haven't used in your write up. But somehow, the grey matter refuses to churn as quickly as you would like. It's slow, time is ticking away. No matter how prepared you are, you will still feel the stress.. hahaha I was.

20 amazingly quick mins later, someone will come and collect you and lead you into the lion's den!! hahah.. there are usually 3 interviewers. I've attended one with 5!!! Anyway, they will go through the questions and you will answer as convincing as possible! 20 mins - 30 mins - more stress!!! When you have answered the last question, you begin to relax a bit. This is when you start thinking, 'have I done well????' 'have I answered correctly???' Oh, the interviewers are very nice people, they don't give anything away. All your answers are great answers. They smile, you smile.

Then it's back to waiting....

Waiting for a phone call...

Or a 'We're sorry...' letter

Ahhhh.... why does it have to be sooooooooooo difficult??? But that's how it is here.

Gone are the days when all you need to do is send in an application letter detailing all your strengths and good points.

I used to think that I was good at writing a job application letter; after all I taught my students how to do it. Nothing prepared me for the shock and stress I got when I tried to apply for a job in Australia. I was lucky, I later got the help I needed.

Now I know...

But it doesn't make me a pro, it is just as stressful every time I apply for a job..