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Job hunting? Here’s our 6 tips

Apr 27, 2022
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Standing out in a crowd of job hunters is a daunting prospect. But with some simple reframing it’s possible to boost your employability and confidence.

Your unique combination of skills and experience is something nobody else has. You’ve just got to present yourself in the right way to show potential employers your unique value.

Leaving behind your international student days and starting to find a job in Australia is an exciting transition, but there are a lot of steps along the way. Here’s our top six tips if you’re thinking about applying for jobs in Australia.

Build your personal brand

Your personal brand is essentially a way for people to know what you’re all about: your character, goals and mission in the professional world.

You can build your personal brand to stand out from the crowd in an increasingly competitive job market. Building a strong online profile that showcases your personal brand is a good place to start and ensuring platforms such as LinkedIn are updated with relevant information is essential. Don’t forget, your personal brand could only be a click away from being reviewed by recruiters, employers and potential managers.

Make your skills transferrable

Some employers are always on the lookout for staff who can perform many different kinds of work. Make sure you don’t dismiss any niche skills when presenting yourself. Time management skills, communication skills (written or verbal), an ability to work as part of a team or a leader are skills which can be advantageous to many different roles. Many companies are open to people with broader or unexpected backgrounds. And don’t expect the employer to join the dots - detail in your cover letter and CV how your skills could be utilised for the particular role.

Different industries = broader experience

Your dream job might not be available right now but that doesn’t mean there aren’t positions in other industries that can broaden your skills and experience. Branch out into other areas for new opportunities where your skills can shine. The diversity of experience will only add to your value for future employers.

Expand your search

Can you do your job remotely or online? Are you limiting yourself to looking for jobs on one or two platforms?

There are so many avenues for job hunting these days and thinking outside the box is vital. Not only could you stumble across new opportunities but new ways of approaching or advancing your career too.

Try searching

Company careers pages
Job boards
LinkedIn
Networking
Career Fairs
Professional groups

Take it online

We now live in a world where talking to people on a video call is, for most of us, an everyday thing.

And safety is a priority, so many companies are now conducting interviews online. This is important to keep in mind when preparing for an interview.

This is particularly true for Bupa, as we’re conducting online interviews and online assessments. We’re hiring remotely, and many roles are permanent from home so you don’t need to be based in a city. For many new starters, this may mean online and remote onboarding instead of a traditional onboarding in office.

Preparing for an online interview

As much as it feels like being in the same room, there are certain aspects of talking to someone over Zoom or Skype which get lost in translation. So how can you make sure you’re presenting the best version of yourself, despite the barrier of a computer screen?

Here’s our top tips:

Get dressed like you would for a face-to-face interview
Look directly at the camera and try to position the camera (even if it’s your phone) so you can see your head and shoulders.
Be conscious of your background and consider adding items of interest to create taking points and show some personality.
Be aware of background noise and try to find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted.
Speak slowly and clearly, and don’t forget to be yourself.
Practice with a friend or family member.

Frequently asked questions

As an international student or graduate, you may have many questions when it comes to looking for a job in Australia. Here we look at three frequently asked questions and how we address them at Bupa.

What cultural differences should I consider?

The hiring process at Bupa isn’t just focused on your CV and skills but whether you fit with our values and culture. Therefore, it’s important to show your personality in an interview. Make sure you research the company and interviewer in advance and come prepared.

If you do any volunteer work, this shows that you are willing to go that extra mile and it can help you stand out above the crowd. Make sure to include it on your CV.

Australian workplaces also tend to be less formal than other countries. Open concept offices, collaborative, less hierarchy. Interviews will want to determine you are a “culture fit”. You can demonstrate this by:

Researching the role and the type of culture at the organisation
Be yourself and show your personality and be your authentic self
Having examples ready of how you respond to certain situations (e.g. with difficult situations)
Researching or seeking to understand who your manager/team will be

Will employers hire me if I don’t have Australian experience / if I’m not a permanent resident?

The answer is, yes!

So long as you have eligible working rights within Australia, you can be considered for roles at Bupa.

We aim to hire people who reflect our customers and communities, and our growing Connecting Multicultural Australia program (CMA) focuses on delivering a tailored experience for Bupa's culturally and linguistically diverse customers.

For example, we have a growing International Partnerships business where we employ a culturally diverse team and our health insurance contact centres have a mandarin line, and we offer digital customer support via WeChat.

How can I stand out from local applicants?

Cultural diversity can be your asset – think language capability and global outlook. Moving abroad to a new country showcases courage, resilience, and maturity and plenty of life experience.

Some other things you might consider:

What transferrable skills do you have?
Make sure your personality shines through
What are your communications strengths – written and/or verbal
How adaptable are you? How can you show this on your CV?
Any volunteer experience you might have been involved in

Wellbeing

General Advice Warning: This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.

All information above has been provided by the author.

Bupa

This article originally appeared on Bupa.com.au/healhlink and has been published here with permission.