Getting a Job
Getting a job is often suprisingly hard, but it's absolutely neccessary if you want to move out. Before you start looking for jobs, you need to make a resume, decide when you can work (is it just over the holidays, on the weekends, or during the week?) and then decide where you would like to work. If you're lucky, you might be able to get work through friends or family, otherwise you need to go job hunting.
Writing a Resume
Writing a resume is a vital skill for any job hunter. You need to include any past jobs you may have had, and see if you can get a reference from them. If you haven't had a previous job, you will have a harder time, but it's not impossible. You will need to focus on your school experience, UAI's can make you seem attractive to a potential employer. That said, try not to come across overly snobby. A school testimonial can also help. I suggest you check out:
- www.rockportinstitute.com/resumes.html
- www.jobweb.com/Resumes_Interviews/resume_guide/how_to.htm
- www.careerone.com.au/jobs/job-search/get-that-job/improve-your-resume
Finding that Job
When you start looking for jobs you will need to look at a variety of sources. You can start by going around and offering your resume to all sorts of places, such as stores in your local shopping centre. The problem here is that they're unlikely to call you until they need someone, and then they'll already have a handful of other people they might choose before you. So, for this reason it's better to apply for actual job vacancies. The paper can be useful, but often doesn't have as many ads as the internet. Websites such as www.seek.com.au, www.mycareer.com.au and www.careerjet.com.au are great for finding jobs. Part time jobs would be very relevant for a university student, but you might also want to consider casual jobs as they are higher paying, and in terms of work load they can be very much like part time jobs. Your uni is also likely to have a service which finds jobs for students, or rather, finds students for potential employers. This could be on the Internet, or in person and is certainly worth a shot as it could help you to find a local job.
Job Interview
Once you've sent your resume to a few places, you might be lucky enough to have a job interview. This is often a stressful experience, so preparation is important. You should research the company, and also have questions prepared. Having a question makes you sound interested and shows you've really considered the company, however, don't ask how much you're paid! You should also dress well, but appropriately, and refer to the interviewer politely. Again, here's some websites which I hope will help you out: