Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about SSouthbank Institute of Technology's student employment service.
These might help answer some of your own questions. If your question is not answered here, please email it to us and we will respond as soon as possible. Please note: questions emailed to us may be included in the development of our FAQs page.
- How do I find out about available jobs?
- How do I write a good resume?
- Should I send out speculative letters?
- Will doing work experience help me get a job?
1. How do I find out about available jobs?
Only 30 per cent of available jobs are advertised in some form. The remaining 70 per cent are filled through connections with friends and colleagues through networking.
The 30 per cent of positions are advertised in places such as:
- student employment service website
- newspapers
- Internet
- employment agencies
- professional association journals and newsletters.
The remaining 70 per cent of positions are usually discovered and filled through:
- friends
- relatives
- neighbours
- work colleagues
- work contacts of relatives and friends
- leads from other employers.
This means that you should be aware of any possible opportunities to introduce yourself and your resume, and to ask questions regarding potential employment and further contacts.
» View more information on how to find a job.
2. How do I write a good resume?
If you need to get assistance in writing resumes and application letters, read the following:
- refer to developing your resume in the career resources section of this site
- attend workshops conducted by the student employment service
- refer to appropriate websites in the links section of this site.
The student employment service provides a resume checking service which operates on a 24 hour turnaround.
Submit a copy of your application letter, resume and selection criteria to the student employment service, and you can collect it again the next working day with feedback and comments.
» Submit resume for feedback via email
3. Should I send out speculative letters?
Yes! Many companies, particularly small ones, find it expensive to advertise and go through the selection process, and therefore welcome speculative letters.
You should send out about six to eight letters at any one time, along with your resume. In the letter, you should indicate that you would be contacting them within 10 days to follow up on the progress of your inquiry.
Some employers will respond positively with a commitment to interview you, or hold your resume on file until they have a suitable position available. Keep track of each employer's comments and commitments.
Be prepared for those employers who initially will not respond positively to your follow-up phone call. It is important to use their knowledge of their industry and try to get them to help you with other leads.
For example: "Now that you have seen my resume, could you suggest any other people or companies that I should contact, or that might be interested in employing someone like me?"
» View our guides about writing speculative letters
4. Will doing work experience help me get a job?
Yes! Undertaking work experience helps a great deal, but try to avoid the use of the term "work experience".
The term "work experience" has a particular meaning in Queensland. It is specifically used to refer to schemes where the experience in a work site is a mandatory part of a course or educational program. As such, there is government legislation to protect both the student and employer. Southbank Institute of Technology will only cover you if the work is a formal and legitimate part of the course.
Many employers are reluctant to place you without being assured that you are covered in some way, and often ask for a letter from the TAFE college to state that it is part of your study. Southbank Institute of Technology will not provide such a letter if you are not part of a formal program.
Where you are not part of a formal work experience scheme, you are better to use the term "voluntary work".
Doing voluntary work or casual paid work provides you with very strong material to include in your resume, particularly in terms of skills developed and responsibilities, and it indicates to potential employers your interest, initiative, and motivation to work in the field.
»View information about voluntary work
Last updated 22 January, 2007