You’ve done the research into the job market. You’ve listed your skills and developed your resume. You know the industries you’re interested in and types of jobs you want to apply for.

Now it’s time to find the job that's the right fit for you and your family and caring responsibilities.

The key to a successful job hunt is to be persistent and look in a variety of places and in a variety of different ways. The more you explore, the more you put yourself out there, the greater your chance of being successful in the long run. 

Ways to find a vacancy

• Let all your friends, relatives and everyone you meet know you are looking for work and ask them if they have any contacts worth following up. The grapevine is an excellent way to access the huge number of jobs that are never advertised.
• Check out newspapers, including local papers – they will have jobs closer to home
• Visit Centrelink
• Use the internet to access JobSearch or use other online job search sites
• Visit a career advice centre or an employment agency
• Take a look at community noticeboards in neighbourhood houses, supermarkets, medical centres etc
• Enquire through an industry association
• Enquire in person, via telephone or send a letter of enquiry

Career counsellors and coaches

If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while you may want to seek professional advice before you start applying for jobs.

Recruitment agents

There are thousands of recruitment and employment agencies throughout Victoria offering full-time, part-time and casual work. The best place to find them is in the Yellow Pages or online. Some supply locums or replacement staff at short notice and others specialise in placing people temporarily or permanently in industries such as IT, nursing, legal, banking and hospitality. Some work directly with local employers and others recruit statewide.

What to look for in a recruitment agency

• Do they treat you as a valued client and take the time to listen to what you want in a job and understand your situtation?
• Do you have a one-to-one relationship with a consultant who understands your work history and knows your skills?
• Are they prepared to see the value of the skills you have gained outside the workforce and help you translate them in the workplace?
• Do they value maturity and life experience?

Some companies specialise in temporary placements or part-time work. These include:

• Part Time Online an internet recruitment site which specialises in flexible employment for parents and mature-age workers 
• CareerMums a job site for mothers who want to work from home or return to work
• Just Be a job search and resource site for women
• Mums in Business a site for mothers who are starting or running their own business
• Priorities a Melbourne-based company that provides training, for example in basic computer skills, confidence-boosting workshops and helps with resume preparation and job placement

More information

To help you gain recognition for your current skills and get advice on how best to update qualifications, go to Skills Stores.

Search a job search website. The three most popular sites are:

• Seek
• MyCareer
• Careerone

The Victorian Government has its own careers website that lists positions vacant within the Victorian Government and gives tips for applying for government jobs.

The Job Guide provides useful information and advice about looking for and applying for jobs. Although targeting the youth market, the site has a range of information that is equally relevant to parents and carers thinking about returning to work.

For assistance with presentation and interview skills, resume advice and building self confidence, visit volunteer-based organisation Fitted for Work.