• Is your industry a growth industry?
• What's hot?
• How to be a winner
• How to be a loser
• Make job interviews work
• Working for yourself
• Working overseas

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Looking for a job can be daunting and takes time. Where do you start? What choices are available, and where do they lead? When you find the job that's right for you, how do you get it? One job in three is now part-time, a far cry from the way things were for our parents. There's no such thing as a job for life-you may have several different careers-but knowing where you're going helps you get there.

Is your industry a growth industry?

These industries are in a growth phase:

• information technology and telecommunications
• tourism and hospitality
• recreation, entertainment and cultural services
• health
• education
• financial and business services
• mining

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What's hot?

DIFM (Do It For Me) Industries

As more people flood the workforce and work longer hours, demand for domestic workers is on the rise. Why? Today, females account for 50 per cent of the workforce compared to 1965, when just 25 per cent were women. The result is that more household duties are being 'outsourced' to people outside the household.

Tip
Go for jobs when people aren't advertising

It may be that no-one else has even approached this employer, meaning you stand a much better chance. Cold canvass-you'll be surprised how often people give you a go. Never be afraid of a "No". It's their loss, remember.

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How to be a winner

• Think carefully about the job you want. In what field, in what capacity, under what pay structure, for what organisation? A small business, or large multinational-each has its attractions. Make a list, setting out what you want from your job, and your life.
• Upgrade your computer skills.
• Upgrade your resume-how long since you've looked at it?
• Learn that second language. In 10 years, the company you're working for may turn out to be a global conglomerate.
• Learn to write and communicate effectively: people who can will always be in demand.
• Stay focussed. You will be much more successful if you focus on which job you want, and why. This is the first question you're asked at most job interviews.
• Be positive-employers like winners. You have every reason to be confident in yourself, and your abilities. Your skills and your abilities are your selling points so if you can't see your positives, how will employers?

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How to be a loser

You won't get the job if you're:

• someone who sends in job applications with mistakes (suggestion: ask someone with experience to look over your application)
• negative
• lazy
• offhand and arrogant at job interviews

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Make job interviews work

Arrive neatly dressed, on time (or a little early) and in a relaxed, positive and focussed frame of mind. Look the interviewer squarely in the eyes, answer all questions, and come well prepared-find out as much as you can about your employer.

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Working for yourself

• Do you have a marketable product or service?
• Are you good at providing it?
• Do you have a clear business goal?
• Can you run a business?
• Are you committed?
• Do you have a bit of money behind you?

If the answer to the above questions is "yes", then maybe you should be running your own business. Talk to an accountant, solicitor or business adviser at the nearest small business centre. If you've got what it takes, it might be the start of something big!

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Working overseas

An attractive option, particularly when you're young and single, is working overseas: there are few better ways to get to know the culture of the country you're visiting. At the time of writing, these were the easiest countries to work in, and the hurdles to cross. Ring the consulate or embassy of each of these countries to get up-to-date information.

Britain

• under 27
• no need for visa
• two-year stay
• no work which advances career
• return airfare

Canada

• under 26
• one year working holiday visa
• $4000 in the bank

Japan

• under 30
• six-months visa
• $3000 in the bank or $2000 and a ticket out
• work teaching English for 20 hours per week

Ireland

• under 26
• six-month visa
• tertiary qualification

Holland

• under 25
• one-year visa
• $2000 and a ticket out
• tourism work