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Transcription

1 ?????? yyyyyy Job hunter

2 Part time job? Extra job? Permanent job? The procedure you need to go through to fi nd a job is more or less the same, no matter whar kind of job you are looking for. In this brochure tells you what to consider when you are job hunting: * Finding jobs you want to apply for * Making the phone call * Writing application and CV * Preparation for the interview * The interview * Rights and duties as an employee Looking for a job is almost like a job in itself. If you apply systematically over time, there will always be a solution. Be prepared to take something else then the job of your dreams for a period. Seize the oportunities that come by! It s easy to say that you are interested in any job, as long as you make money. But it s better to think through what you d like to work with in the future. Take aim at jobs where you can get the appropriate experience on your way to the job of your dreams - and hopefully it will be easier to get the job you really want! Good luck! 2

3 1. Where can I find vacant positions? Internet NAV is the gouvernment employment service in Norway. On their website you can fi nd job listings and useful information on job search in Norway. NAV can in different ways assist job seekers with getting a new job as soon as possible. Contact them for more info on what they can to offer you, tel They also have a special program called Intro for immrants, tel See or Other databases (in Norwegian only): nn.no Contact employers directly This is probably the best method for non-norwegian speaking job seekers. More than half of the distribution of jobs in Norway takes place at the so called unannounced market. This means many vacant jobs are never advertised through the public channels. We therefore recommend you to contact potential employers directly. Call them, or even better; show up in person! Bring an open application that you can hand in together with your CV. You ll find more info about open application on page 11. Job agents/recruitments agencies Functions as intermediaries between employers and employees. You can register your CV online at these agencies websites. Hopefully you can get engagements of shorter or longer duration, depending on what kind of qualifi cations the employers are looking for. Other methods # Use your network (friends, family, co-workers etc) # Read job ads in newspapers # Ask former employers # Advertise in papers yourself 3

4 2. Advertisements Why read the advertisements thoroughly? They say something about the establishment, thus indicating what you should write in your application and what questions you should prepare for a phone call and a possible interview. What do I look for in the advertisements? Read the ads thoroughly, so that you are sure to take in everything. Call them if there is little information. Pay extra attention to the following: What kind of position are they offering? Full time? Part time? Which are their requirement and wishes from the seeker? Which assignments and responsibilities come with the job? What do the establishment offer? Information about the establishment. Practical information 3. The phone call The purpose for the phone call This conversation is an important tool for you. It s the fi rst contact between you and the employer, and it s therefore essential that you make a good impression! Through this conversation you have the chance to gather further info about the job. Use this info to improve your application and CV. Who do I talk to? Ask for the contact person mentioned in the advertisement. If there is no listed contact person, ask for the personal manager or the person in charge of employments. Introduce yourself and explain why you are calling before you start asking your questions. Make notes! It s important that you prepare yourself properly. Write down your questions and have them at hand during the conversation so that you don t forget anything. Be polite and concrete and speak plainly. Remember to note the name of the person you re talking to, in addition to the name of the fi rm and the phone number, so you can use it preparing the application and a potential interview. Follow up the application It can be smart to call once more after you have sent the application, to hear how the process is going, or just to be sure that they have received it. 4

5 4. Curriculum Vitae (CV) The CV is a short reeling point by point of what you have been doing in your life. It functions as a tool for the employer to easily get an overview of your experience and competence. The employer read the CV fi rst. The CV sort out which applications the employer will have a further look at. Take your time to write a good CV it increases your chances to be considered for the job. Also remember to adjust the CV to the kind of job you are applying for. A CV can be done in several ways as long as it s tidy, well arranged and free of spelling mistakes. Besides this, it should contain following points: Personal data (name, address, phone/mobile number, , date of birth, marital status) Education Working experience Other types of experience (organizational work, volunteer work, responsibilities from domestic life etc) Courses Language knowledge Comuter skills Leisure interests References Start by writing what you did last. Be as specifi c as possible on dates, at least write which month you started and fi nished. Write shortly what kind of assignments you performed during the different jobs. If you have holes in your CV, meaning periods where you didn t go to school, work, travel or anything, the employer will notice this. You might be asked to explain this if you are called in to an interview. References are persons who know you, who the the employer can call to ask how you have been functioning in previous relations. It can be a former employer, teacher, coach of your football team or others. Preferably not family or friends. Remember to ask the person concerned before putting him or her on your CV, so he or she can prepare for questions from an employer. Write work title and phone number. On the next page you ll fi nd an examle of how to write a CV. 5

6 Curriculum Vitae Andrzej Walczak Alfasetveien Oslo Date of birth: Mobile: Sex: male Marital status: single Citizenship: Polish Education Oct 2003 July 2006 Bachelor, history The State Higher School of Vocational Education, Nysa, Poland June 2003 Final exam The State Higher School of Vocational (Swiadectwo dojrzalosci) Education, Nysa, Poland Aug 1999 June 2003 High school (Liceum) Nysa, Poland Work experience Aug 2006 Des 2006 Restaurant employee, fulltime Bella Napoli pizza restaurant, Receiving guests, serving, Cracow, Poland entertaining children Oct 2004 May 2006 Restaurant employee, part time Blue Moon restaurant, Serving, washing dishes, Nysa, Poland cleaning premises Summers Food store employee, fulltime Grocery shop, Cashier, stock refi lling Nysa, Poland Courses Jan 2006 present day Norwegian, level 1 Oslo voksenopplæring, Rosenhof, Oslo Sept Nov 2006 Educational seminar Pedagogical University, Cracow, Poland Nov 2003 Fist aid, 2 lessons Red Cross, Nysa, Poland Volunteer work Jan 2005 Dec 2005 Guitar teacher, once a week Private Musical Academy, Lower levels, adults and children Nysa, Poland Jan 2005 present day Teaching Polish Gamlebyen volunteer central, Oslo Languages Polish English German First language Very good oral and written Good oral, basic written Other information Driver s licence class B Interests Guitar playing, music, books 6

7 5. Application What is the purpose of the application? The application is a thorough presentation of your motivation, education, experience, skills and interests that is relevant to the job. It has one purpose: to make such a good impression on the employer that you are called in to an interview and get the job! Keep this in mind when writing the application: - The advertisement - The notes from the phone call - Your experiences, qualifi cations and skills Layout The application is a formal letter and must be written in a specifi c way, preferably on a pc. Even though Norwegians in many ways are rather informal, most employers are strict when it comes to this. Consider how you dispose the text, which should not be more than one machine written page. Check your spelling and grammar. Ask someone else to read through your application. It doesn t have to be a professional, but can be parents, friends or someone else. This is important because it s easy to miss rather obvious spelling mistakes when you read your own writing over and over again. Contents The most important is that you manage to communicate your motivation for applying. Why do you want exactly this job? It should be more than that you need the money. Continue to say something about what you have been doing previously, what experiences you gained from this and how you are as a person, both professionally and personally. It s essential that you explain why you mean that this is relevant for the job you are applying for and illustrate with concrete examples. Remember to keep the fi nal date for applying. If the date has already passed, call to hear if you still can send your application. On the next page you ll fi nd some useful questions to keep in mind when working on your application.

8 Your name Your address Name of company Address Place, date APPLICATION FOR... Where and when did you fi nd information about this job? What is your motivation for applying? What have you been doing previously that you can use in this specifi c job? How can you contribute? What are your skills? How much can you work? How is it easiest to get a hold of you? When can you meet for an interview? Best regards, Your signature Your name 8

9 Andrzej Walczak Alfasetveien Oslo Oslo, TGI Friday s Karl Johans gate Oslo Application for job as a waiter at TGI Friday s Karl Johan I refer to the advertisement at on January 22nd, and after a friendly conversation with personal manager Roar Sundby, I hereby wish to apply for the announced job at TGI Friday s at Karl Johan. Being a waiter at TGI Friday s is interesting for me for many reasons. I wish to work in a young and dynamic working environment. I have previous experience from the restaurant business, and I enjoy dealing with customers and providing good service. TGI Friday s seems like a popular place with an enjoyable atmosphere for both guest and staff, as it at the same time represent quality and tradition. I d like to integrate in the Norwegian and improve my Norwegian language. I believe that a job where I interact with people can help me achieve this goal. My former restaurant jobs in Poland have given me experience in everything from cleaning and waiting to being in contact with people. I have learnt much about service and the importance of tidiness and effi ciency when working at a place with a high tempo. These jobs have also taught me to handle stressful and unexpected situations in a calm and professional way. I m a social and out going person, and I enjoy meeting new people and working in team. At the same time I can also work independently. The job at the grocery store gave me experience in organizing my own day and prioritizing which tasks should be performed fi rst. I believe I can contribute in a positive way to the environment at TGI Friday s, both with an enthusiastic attitude and a high working capacity. In my volunteer engagement at the volunteer central in Gamlebyen I meet people with an open attitude and good humour. I strive to make people feel relaxed and comfortable, either if it s in my leisure time or through my work. I can start to work right away, and I m fl exible regarding working hours. Should certifi - cates, references or further information be required, I m available on my cell phone and , and I can of course come to an interview. Best regards, Andrzej Walczak Andrzej Walczak

10 6. Open application An open applications is almost the same as a regular application. The content is slightly different. You send open applications to establishments that haven t announced that they are looking for new staff. This means that you are not applying for a specifi c position, but you want them to know that you are interested in working there. Make a list of companies and fi nd information about them. Where in the establishment do you see yourself? How can you contribute? Concentrate on jobs in bars, restaurants, hotels (cleaning and doing dishes etc.), manual labour or paper delivering, even if you are highly skilled/educated in other areas. Some international companies might hire foreign employees. Check out their websites if they have any standard application forms you can fi ll out. If not, you can write an open application and send it to them. Below is a templet for an open application, and on the next page you ll fi nd an example Your name Your address Place, date OPEN APPLICATION FOR... Why do you send this inquiry? What is your motivation for applying? Can you perform any kind of assignments or do you have any preferences? What have you been doing previously that you can use in this specifi c job? How can you contribute? What are your skills? How much can you work? How is it easiest to get a hold of you? When can you meet for an interview? Best regards, Your signature Your name

11 Andrzej Walczak Alfasetveien Oslo Oslo, Open application for job as waiter I hereby wish to apply a fulltime job in your restaurant. I m mainly interested in a job as a waiter, but I can of course be fl exible according to your needs. Being a waiter is interesting for me for many reasons. I wish to work in a dynamic working environment. I have previous experience from the restaurant business, and I enjoy dealing with customers and providing good service. I d like to integrate in the Norwegian and improve my Norwegian language. I believe that a job where I interact with people can help me achieve this goal. My former restaurant jobs in Poland have given me experience in everything from cleaning and waiting to being in contact with people. I have learnt much about service and the importance of tidiness and effi ciency when working at a place with a high tempo. These jobs have also taught me to handle stressful and unexpected situations in a calm and professional way. I m a social and out going person, and I enjoy meeting new people and working in team. At the same time I can also work independently. The job at the grocery store gave me experience in organizing my own day and prioritizing which tasks should be performed fi rst. I believe I can contribute in a positive way, both with an enthusiastic attitude and a high working capacity. In my volunteer engagement at the volunteer central in Gamlebyen I meet people with an open attitude and good humour. I strive to make people feel relaxed and comfortable, either if it s in my leisure time or through my work. I can start to work right away, and I m fl exible regarding working hours. Should certifi cates, references or further information be required, I m available on my cell phone and , and I can of course come to an interview. Best regards, Andrzej Walczak Andrzej Walczak 11

12 7. The interview If the employer fi nds your application interesting and relevant, you might be called in to an interview. This is a conversation between you and one or more persons. An interview normally follows a certain structure. You can either be called in alone or together with other appliers. The purpose is to fi nd the right person for the position. The interview is a two way exchange of information. The interviewer opens, leads and closes the conversation. Your role is to be an active part, by being awake, patient, listening and reacting. You must be willing to give something of yourself in order to achieve what you want; the job! Before the interview Prepare well! Then you ll have a better chance of doing a good interview. Gather as much information about the company as possible. This will make you feel more secure during the interview. You ll also make a better impression. Read through the job advertisement and your CV and application. Bring these with you to the interview; you ll then seem tidy and well prepared. Find out where the interview is to be held and how to get there, preferably the day before. Make sure you have enough time in case anything unforeseen should happen on the way, and be there on time! Choice of clothes can be diffi cult; it depends on what kind of position you are applying for. As a general rule you can wear something you feel comfortable in. Make sure your clothes are whole and clean. During the interview There is a divided practise from place to place. Usually you ll fi rst get information about the position and the company. Then they will ask you questions regarding your education, work experience and personal qualities. You may also encounter a practical test. If it is a group interview, you often get a task you have to solve collectively. Further on you will probably be introduced to the conditions that the company can offer. Finally you can ask questions and add information. Be prepared of an extensive presentation of yourself! Most of the questions you will get require more than just a yes or no. The interviewer expects a supplementary and descriptive answer. Below we ve listed some examples of typical questions you may encounter. It will pay to read through these questions and refl ect on what your answer would be during an interview. Feel free to have a role play with parents or a friend, where the other person acts as the interviewer and you are yourself. Then you get to practice your answers out loud before another person. It can be quite useful, as it is quite different from just planning the answers in your head. 12

13 Which questions may I encounter? The questions will vary, so be prepared for all kinds of questions within the areas education, experience and personal qualities. Some typical questions: - Why did you apply for this job? - What do you know about our business? - Why do you want to quit your current job? - How do/did you like school/studies? - Why did you choose that exact fi eld of study? - Tell about your previous work experience - Tell about yourself, both as a person and as an employee - Refl ect on cooperation and independent work - How do you react to criticism? - Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? - Mention three positive things about yourself - Mention three negative things about yourself - Can you explain the holes in your CV? Not all areas are covered with this list, but it gives you an idea of what to expect. Ask for an explanation on questions you do not understand; it s much better than answering no or don t know! Speak clearly, keep eye contact, be honest and show your positive qualities without overdoing it. Remember that this is not an exam. You will get a chance to be active and ask questions take it! And last, but not least: It is natural to be nervous! What salary can I demand? It is always smart to let the interviewer bring up the question of salary. Remember that you re primarily interested in the job not the salary. But you can of course have an opinion on what your work is worth. Check with the labour union or others doing the same kind of work, what their salaries are. After the interview After a few days you will get an answer on whether the job is yours or not. If you don t get a job offer, you can ask for the reason for this, and what you could have done differently. Use this experience in future job seeking. You can also let the employer know that you are interested in being backup personnel in case they need assistance on short notice. 13

14 7. When the job is yours Which are my rights as an employee? You have many rights as an employee. The most important ones are: Contract: It is very important to have a written contract before you start. The contract should contain information about salary, working time, trial period and other conditions. A contract is not valid until signed by both employer and employee. There are special rules to protect children and youth in employment, but basically everyone above 13 can work. Training: You have the right to adequate training. Training shall be paid. Salary: In Norway there is no minimum wage by law. The exception is if you are a member of a labour union. You will then be entitled to the salary the union has negotiated and agreed on, on behalf of its members. If you are not a member of a union, it s actually fully legal for the employer to pay you NOK 20 pr. hour, as long as you accept the salary the employer offers you and signs the contract. You can of course refuse to accept the offer and negotiate for a higher salary, but do this before you sign the contract. Joining a labor union? You have to consider whether you want to join a labor union or not. If you are a member of labor union, you get additional rights to those provided by law, and you will have a stronger position if problems with your employer should occur. Check out or What does the employer expect from you? You also have obligations as an employee. Your employer will expect you to be on time, to perform your tasks in a satisfying way and that you ll have your uniform in order (if you have one). 14

15 8. Don t give up! There are always obstacles to climb when applying for work. Keep in mind that it can be diffi cult to get a job in Norway if you don t speak Norwegian. It s important not to give up because of that! Remember that you have to be the active part. If the job is given to someone else, there is no reason to despair. You learn a lot from the process. Contact the establishment to get feedback on the application and interview what can you do better or different the next time? 9. Useful websites The Norwegian employment service. Information on living and working in Norway. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. Focus on occupational safety and health. Information about tax. National Offi ce for Social Insurance. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration. Gateway to the public sector in Norway. 15

16 Right information in one place Have any questions? No matter what you are wondering about, you can ask us at UngInfo, and we will do our best to give you a proper answer. We give information in an informal and comprehensible way. All our services are free. We give information about: Education Work Housing Going abroad Health and social issues Law and economics Leisure time New in Oslo We are open: Monday-Friday Thursday July and August: Monday-Friday 9-18 Tuesday mail@ung.info Check our website for new and updated information. Send us an if you have any questions or comments. This brochure was last updated January 2007 Møllergata 3, 0179 OSLO Tel: Fax: mail@ung.info A centre for youth, run by Barne- og ungdomsrådet i Oslo