Applying for a job in writing is often your first chance to make a good impression and show your skills, so it’s important to get it right. Get started with our tips on what to include in your application, how to present it, and writing a cover letter., What can be in an application?, A job application might include: written responses to job requirements, also called ‘selection criteria’ an application form, if the employer uses one information about recent work history, or your full resume other documents such as your certificates and study results a cover letter. Some employers may ask for a cover letter and responses to selection criteria along with your resume. Others may…, Before you start, Before you start writing an application: check what you need to include – this should be in the job advertisement check how you need to submit the application research the employer and the position you are applying for think about the skills, qualities, knowledge, experience and qualifications you have that suit the job read through any job requirements and make notes about how you meet them.…, Tips for presenting your application, Focus on and cover your skills and experience that match the job. Use key words from the job advertisement. Make the application clear and to the point. For some industries, it might be a good idea to show your work. For example, for jobs in the arts, design, publishing or technology. Type your application unless the employer has asked you to write it by hand. Use basic formatting and a simple…, Making the final checks, Read the job advertisement again and any other information. Make sure you have responded to what the employer has asked for. Check over your application for any mistakes – it’s a good idea to do this a day or two after you write it, if there is enough time. Ask someone else to check over it as well., Writing a cover letter, Most job applications need a cover letter. You will usually need to type this in a separate document and attach it with your application. Employers may have a number of applications to review, so your cover letter should be clear and to the point. It’s often best to write your cover letter after you have put together all the other parts of your application., Tips for writing a good cover letter, Keep your letter to one page, unless the job advertisement says the letter can be longer. Tailor the letter to the job and organisation – don’t send the same letter for every job. Name the job you are applying for and where or how you heard about it. Briefly describe the qualifications, skills, abilities and experience you have that suit the job. Make sure any experience you mention in your…, Writing a covering email, If the employer asks you to send your application by email, keep your email brief and to the point. You only need to include your name, the job you’re applying for, and mention that your application, resume and any other documents are attached.
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You might contact an employer you’d like to work for to ask if they have jobs available or to get more information about a job., Writing to an employer, Whether you're writing to apply for a job or asking about future work, you want the employer to notice you. A good email or letter: has a clear purpose uses straightforward language and short sentences is clearly set out., Asking if they have any jobs available, When you write to an employer to ask if they have jobs available: say straight away that you’re looking for work say why you would like to work for their business show that you already know some things about their business or the industry they work in include information about your skills, qualities and experience – but keep it short say why you would be a valuable employee for their business. If…, Asking for more information about a job, If you want to contact an employer to get more information about a job: say which job you’re asking about. Use the job name and the reference number, if there is one in the job advertisement ask your question. If you have more than one question, you could put them in a list., Tips for writing a formal letter, You might choose to write a formal letter rather than an email when: you’re writing a cover letter with a job application you’re writing to accept or say no to a job offer an employer has asked you to write about why you want the job. It’s rare that you need to post a letter to an employer, but you will need to type it. You can then attach it to an email or print it out if needed. The language in…, Setting out your letter, The, start, of your letter should include: your name and address the date when you’re writing the name of the person you are writing to the position title of the person you are writing to (You can usually find out these details by phoning the business and asking who you should write to.) the name of the business the postal address of the business a greeting such as ‘Dear Ms/Mr…’. The, main part, of the letter should include three or four paragraphs. These should cover things like your experience and why you want to work for them. At the, end, of the letter, include: what you would like the person to do after reading your letter. For example, you could write: Thank you for considering my interest in working for your organisation. I look forward to hearing from you. a sign-off such as ‘Yours sincerely’, followed by your name and signature. You can find out more about writing a letter with an application at Writing a job application and…, Before you hit send, Before you send your letter, have someone else read over it. They might pick up small errors or suggest how to improve it., Phoning an employer, If you tend to get anxious or nervous calling people you don’t know, it can help to prepare notes and set out a plan before calling an employer., Before making your call, Find out as much as you can about the business you’re calling. Write down the questions you will ask or the information you need to give. If you’re calling to ask if they have jobs available, write a list of your skills, qualities and experience. Think about what you’ll say if you reach voicemail. Prepare a short message. Have everything you need ready, such as: your notes a blank notepad and pen…, During your call, Say your name and the name of the person you would like to speak to. If you don’t know their name, ask to speak to the manager or the person responsible for staffing or recruitment. Say why you’re calling, for example you’re looking for work or you’re calling for more information about an advertised job. Remember that it is okay to ask the person to slow down or repeat something you’ve missed.…, If things get tricky during the call, If you begin to feel nervous during the call, take some deep breaths. You can be quiet for a moment to gather your thoughts. If you still feel nervous it’s okay to ask if you can phone back at another time. This will allow you to get together the information you need., After your call, As soon as you get off the phone, make notes about the conversation. Write down the things you need to do and when you need to do them., Calling to ask if they have jobs available, There are some extra things to note when you are calling to ask an employer if they have jobs available. During your call: say why you would like to work for their business. This is a chance to show that you already know some things about their business or the industry they work in talk about how your skills, qualities and experience suit their type of business say why you would be a valuable…, Getting help, If you have a Disability Employment Services provider, talk to them about any help you might need to contact an employer. If you are an NDIS participant, you can also talk to your NDIA planner or Local Area Coordinator about employment supports. If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the free National Relay Service (NRS) to help you make phone or video calls.
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Having an interview is a key part of getting a job. Being well prepared can help you feel more confident. Find out how to do your best in an interview and get the support you need.
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An interview is a way for employers to find out more about you and how you can do the job. It’s also your chance to find out more about the employer. Our tips for before, during and after the interview can help you make the most of the experience., Before the interview, To help you feel prepared there are a few things you can do before the interview. Here are few tips:, Do your research, Find out as much as you can about the employer and the tasks of the job. This helps you think about questions to ask and shows the employer you are interested., Practise interview questions, Prepare answers to possible interview questions. What skills and experience does the job ask for? How do you meet those? You can ask a friend or family member to practise interviewing you. Also think about what you would like to know about the job, the workplace and the work arrangements. You can go to Talking about your disability at an interview and What employers can ask at an interview for…, Think about your needs, If your disability could affect how you perform parts of the job, think about changes or support you might need. For example, will you need changes to your work area, or flexible working hours? You might want to be ready to raise this at the interview. Visit Talking about your disability at an interview for more information., Plan ahead, If the interview is in person, plan how you will get there. Do a practice run and allow extra time for possible traffic and transport delays. Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early so you can gather your thoughts before the interview. If the interview is online, make sure you have the app or software set up on your computer and know the basics of how to use it., Getting help for your interview, If you need support to take part in an interview because of your disability, you can raise this with the employer in advance. Find out more about the Support you may need for an interview . , At the interview, It is good to think of an interview like a conversation. Remember that you and the employer are both there to get to know each other better. Here are a few tips for the day of the interview., Make a good first impression, Your interview might be with just one person or with several people at the same time. Introduce yourself to everyone before the interview starts. An interview starts from the first moment of contact. Be aware of what you’re saying during the ‘small talk’ before the interview questions begin., Don’t worry about being nervous, Remember that it is normal to be nervous and employers will expect that. You may even choose to tell the employer how you feel. This can help calm you down. Some employers may also see it as a sign that you care about getting the job., Handle tricky questions, If you can’t think of an answer to a question straight away, don’t worry. Take a moment to think about it. This shows you think things through and don’t panic under pressure. If you are not sure how to answer a question, ask the interviewer to explain or clarify it. This shows that you’re not afraid to ask questions to get things right. You can also ask to come back to the question later. Be…, End well, When the interview is over, thank the interviewers for their time., Explaining gaps in your work history, It is not unusual for people with disability to have periods of time when they were not employed. If you have gaps in your work history, you can explain these in a number of ways. For example: if you couldn’t work because of your disability, be honest, but make it clear that you are able and eager to work now mention any study, volunteer work or other activities you did during those times…, Questions to ask in an interview, Your chance to ask questions will most likely come at the end of the interview. By asking questions, you can learn what the workplace is like and how they value their people. Here are a few examples of questions you might ask: Can you tell me more about what a typical work day looks like? What qualities does a person need to do well in this role? Can you tell me more about the team and the…, After the interview, Don’t be too negative about how you performed in the interview. Each interview you have builds confidence and gives you a chance to improve., Keep notes, After each interview, make some notes about what happened. Think about what went well and what you could do better next time., Be patient and follow up, Employers might take a few days or a few weeks to work out who they want for a job. If the employer doesn’t contact you in the time you expected, you might want to call or send a short email to check if there is an update., Ask for feedback, If you don’t get the job, ask the person from the organisation for feedback. Ask if there were particular reasons why you didn’t get the job. This can help you prepare for future interviews. And remember, if you miss out on one job, that employer may still think of you for a different position., Tip:, As you attend more interviews, it’s a good idea to keep a list of the organisations you have been to. Make sure you have a contact name for each one. You may wish to contact them again in the future.
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There are free services that can support your organisation to attract and hire staff who have disability. You can also join free information sessions for employers.
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The National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) helps employers recruit and hire people with disability. The NDRC is a JobAccess program funded by the Australian Government., What does the NDRC do?, The NDRC can partner with your organisation for 12 months. Your NDRC account manager will work with you to create a strategy for increasing disability employment. They can also help you design jobs specifically for people with disability and make your organisation a disability employer of choice., Design jobs and find candidates, The NDRC can help your organisation design jobs for people with disability. This includes writing clear position descriptions that focus on the job requirements. The NDRC can then share your vacancies with the national network of Disability Employment Services (DES) providers for free. DES providers assist thousands of people with disability find employment. They can put forward candidates with…, Help make your organisation accessible and inclusive, The NDRC can work with you to develop workplace policies and practices that meet the needs of people with disability. The NDRC can also help raise awareness of disability in your organisation through: workplace disability awareness training mental health awareness training free seminars for employers ., Help you work with DES providers, The NDRC can help you to work with DES providers through each stage of the recruitment process. This includes how you can involve DES providers in: shortlisting and interviewing job candidates providing on-the-job support for your new staff members., How to contact the NDRC, Call a JobAccess Adviser on , 1800 464 800, to connect you to the NDRC. You could also fill out our enquiry form . Join the JobAccess mailing list to receive e-newsletters and invitations to employer seminars. These events can help employers at the start of the hiring process as well as those who already employ people with disability. The e-newsletters provide research findings, event information, stories and updates, and more.…
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JobAccess Recognised for Disability Employment Leadership., JobAccess has been celebrated as a world-leading program that helps remove barriers and improve accessibility for people with disability. At a recent conference held in Vienna, the JobAccess program won a Zero Project Award for Innovative Solutions in Inclusive Employment and Information and Communication Technology. The Zero Project is a global foundation that works to improve inclusion for…, Are you looking to build a disability-confident workplace?, Learn more about how JobAccess supports inclusive employment. Contact us on 1800 464 800 today!
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The National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) hosts free events for employers on hiring people with disabilities. We run the events in cities around Australia and online. , What you can learn, Our employer events show you the benefits a diverse workforce can give your business. In the events you will learn about: creating job opportunities for people with disability accessing services and financial support developing a disability employment strategy making an action plan to support people with disability in your workplace., How to join an event, If you’re interested in joining an event, you can: email jobs-ndrc@genu.org.au call a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 . We run events in person and online. You can also sign up to receive monthly newsletters and the latest news from the NDRC. To find more about previous and previous and upcoming events you can visit the news section on our website.
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A person with disability may well be the best match for a position in your organisation. There are ways to make your job advertisements accessible and inclusive to all candidates., Ways to attract candidates, Some job advertisements have very specific and detailed lists of requirements. Some also use templates that include a lot of information that isn’t essential. This can put people off applying. There are ways to encourage more suitable people to apply, including people with disability. For example, you can: put a statement in the job advertisement that you are inclusive and welcome applicants who…, Help to design and promote jobs, A Disability Employment Services provider or a JobAccess Adviser can help you design and promote jobs for people with disability. Organisations can partner with the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC). The NDRC supports employers to write clear job descriptions, share vacancies and create policies and practices to meet the needs of people with disability., Putting your vacancies online, There are several websites for job listings, including some that cater to specific groups or industries., Employment websites for people with disability, There are job search websites that connect employers to job seekers with disability. Both Toozly and The Field list jobs across Australia for a range of organisations. Employers need to subscribe to post jobs. Toozly, General employment websites, Some of the more popular employment websites: Workforce Australia Seek CareerOne Indeed Adzuna LinkedIn Ethical Jobs EmployAbility, Websites for specific industries, Some employment websites target certain industries. These include: Healthcare Australia – jobs for nurses, aged care staff and medical specialists Ozharvest – jobs in fruit picking and other seasonal jobs in harvest areas Sportspeople – jobs in sport., Your own website and social media, Many people looking for work will focus on a certain industry or even a particular organisation. If your website has a ‘Careers’ section, this is an obvious place to post your job vacancies. You can also use your social media, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and others, to promote vacancies and direct people to more information on how to apply.
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When interviewing people with disabilities, it is important to keep a few things in mind. These will help ensure a fair process for all. Think about what to adjust, what to ask in the interview and how you assess job applicants., Before the interview, It’s important to give all candidates a clear outline of what to expect in the recruitment process. This helps people decide if they will need support at any stage. By law, you must make any changes needed to help a candidate with disability take part in the interview. These are called ‘reasonable adjustments’. If an applicant discloses their disability, contact them. Ask if they need adjustments…, Examples of adjustments for an interview, Examples of adjustments and support might be: giving a person with vision impairment more detailed instructions and extra time to find your building. organising an Auslan interpreter for an interview with a person who is deaf. making sure the interview venue has clear access for a person who uses a wheelchair. For more on types of changes and what you must do, see Guidelines on reasonable…, Interview questions, Under the, Disability Discrimination Act, , it is illegal for employers to ask for details about a candidate’s disability. You can only ask questions about how their disability might affect how they do the job and work safely. You can ask about: changes to the workplace that will support them to do the job. changes to work hours or rosters to help them do better in the role. keeping the workplace safe for them and everyone else. You can’…, Types of questions you can ask, Will you need any special work arrangements so you can do your job? Will you need us to make any changes here in the workplace? Do you have ideas about good ways to do your job? Do you have ideas for making your workplace safe? Do you take any medication that might make it unsafe for you to do any of the job’s tasks? How will you let us know about medical appointments so we can change your work…, Types of questions you can’t ask, Do you take a lot of medication? Are you sick a lot? How many times a year do you go to the doctor? Are you going to be able to cope? Does your disability make you get angry with other people? Have you ever lost a job because of your disability?, Other assessments, Make sure any assessments in the recruitment process are in accessible formats. For example, if there is a written test, provide an option to give spoken responses if an applicant has trouble with fine hand coordination. All assessments must relate only to the basic requirements of the job. Any medical checks must relate to the job. Medicals should only test whether the applicant’s fitness or…, Financial support for adjustments, Your organisation may be eligible for financial assistance through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF). The EAF can help cover any costs for changes and services to support people with disability in the workplace, this can include using an Auslan interpreter at an interview. To find out more, visit our Funding for changes in the workplace page or contact a JobAccess Adviser.
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