Home Advice Job search and applications
Job search and applications
Choosing a direction, then getting the mechanics right so a small mistake doesn't cost you the role.
Diploma or bachelor degree, and when the diploma is enough
How diplomas and bachelor degrees differ in length, cost, loans and pathways, and when the job you want sets the qualification for you.
How to ask someone to be your referee (with examples)
Four short messages to copy when you ask someone to be your referee, how to check they can give you a strong reference, and what to do if they say no or sound unsure.
How to change careers, and which moves are realistic
Data on 1,573 career moves across 350 Australian occupations shows 63.3% need no more than a short course, though skill overlap alone won't tell you which ones. Six worked examples, and how to check your own move.
How to decline a job offer, even one you've accepted
Four templates: the standard decline, declining for a better offer, declining over salary, and the harder case of backing out after you've already said yes.
How to follow up on a job application
When to follow up on a job application or interview, who to contact, what to say by email or phone, and when to stop waiting and move on.
How to write a job application email (with examples)
What to write in a job application email, how to word the subject line, whether to attach your cover letter, and how to name and format your files.
What a background check actually covers
What an Australian background check includes: police checks, spent convictions, Working with Children Checks, NDIS screening, VEVO and your privacy.
Year 10 work experience
How Year 10 work experience works in Australia, with the rules for every state and territory, placement ideas and a sample email to a business.