‘Do your homework’ was the message to secondary students at a youth employment forum in Dandenong.
South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN) held the event at Chisholm Institute on Tuesday 16 August.
Panelists Jess Moore from IKEA and Darren Moulder from Bunnings both emphasised that job seekers should research the company they were applying to, even visiting them if possible, and tailoring cover letters and resumes.
Mr Moulder also advised applicants to read job vacancy advertisements carefully and write their cover letter to suit.
Rachel Mithen from Victoria Police said applicants should pick up the phone and call the hiring manager for further information about the vacancy to show initiative and enthusiasm and create a positive first impression.
Melanie Robertson from Bombardier said it was important for applicants to be themselves and answer questions honestly during interviews.
The employers all agreed that volunteer experience was a valuable way to demonstrate the attributes they were looking for – communication skills, teamwork and reliability.
Nikki Peut from McDonald’s suggested students without prior work experience could obtain a reference from a teacher or a sporting coach to support their application.
