Key Steps to Take When You Dont Get Your Dream Job

Key Steps to Take When You Dont Get Your Dream JobKey Steps to Take When You Dont Get Your Dream Job1Rejection- it really is a part of life. But when youve gone after a job you know is the perfect fit for youand youre confident the hiring manager agrees- and yet you dont get the offer, youre usually left feeling devastated and confused.What went wrong? The answer can be any number of reasons why you didnt get your dream job. An internal candidate could have been chosen, someone may have been more qualified, or your resume may bedrngnis have made the cut for a variety of reasons.So, what do you do now? You have several options, but none of them should include staying in a negative place of depression, self-pity, or anger.Take these positive six steps to move forward if you didnt get your dream job1. Remind yourself that youre not the only one who didnt get your dream job.There are often upwards of 100 candidates for a coveted position and only one will be chosen. That means you could be one of 99 who were also rejected.And think about your life history so far. Have you experienced the disappointment of rejection before? Of course you have. You may not have made the cut for an athletic team, you may have lost a debate, maybe you didnt get in the sorority or fraternity you wanted, or you may have experienced not winning in a competition. Looking back now, are you still devastated? Most likely not.A wise person once said, If it will matter five years from now, its something to dwell on. And while not getting that job seems like a huge setback right now, it wont seem so in five years. Getting some mental perspective will ease the pain.2. Ask for feedback.If you made it through the interview process, its perfectly okay to contact the interviewer and ask for feedback. Ask how you can become a better candidate or interviewee. Veronica Wright, CEO of Resumes Centre,says, Rejected candidates often hesitate to do this, but if they do get an answer, it can be helpful for t he next interview. They have nothing to lose by asking.3. Avoid ruminating but do evaluate a few things.First, review your resume and compare it with the job posting. Were there some things you overlooked? Every resume has to be customized for a specific position and must include keywords that an automated resume scanner will find.Review the interview objectively, but avoid over-analyzing every minute of the event. Do think about what answers you can improve on next time. Youd be surprised how many interviews contain the same questions, just in a different format, says Guy Thomas, director of the resume writing department at FlashEssay. Candidates need to prepare answers within the context of the specific position.4. Get back on that horse.The best cure for the devastation from not getting your dream job is to kick your job search back into gear as quickly as possible. Give yourself a day to feel bad but no more. Theres a psychological healing that occurs when you take some positive action following a negative event. Work on that resume, check out job postings and get your paperwork out there. If nothing else, this will force you to look forward rather than dwell on the rejection.5. Make a list.Think about all the successes youve had in your life so far. You achieved them because you have some great strengths, skills, talents, and abilities. One of the best ways to get over self-negativity is to make a list of all of those things. Youll find that your list of achievements is long.6. Theres more than one dream job.Youmay not feel this way right now, but there isnt just one dream job for you. And one of them is out there in your future. As Joni Hampton, HR director at EssaySupply, says, Careers occur in steps and stages. There are usually interim positions before you get to that one you absolutely love. Learn and grow during those interims- thats the key.Going ForwardRejection is painful, whether it comes from a relationship gone sour, a competition not won, or that dream job not gotten. The great thing about us humans, though, is that we are resilient. When faced with rejection, we feel pain (and maybe some anger), we sometimes over-generalize it to other areas of our lives, but we do get over it. Ask yourself, Will it really matter five years from now, or will I be on to other things?Find a job that fits your lifestyle Browse Open Flexible JobsSylvia Giltner is an experienced HR professional who helps job seekers find their ideal career paths. Shes also an active guest contributor. Sylvias writing has been featured on Forbes, MarketWatch, Fast Company, Next Avenue, and more.

How to Recover From a Rejected Idea - The Muse

How to Recover From a Rejected Idea - The MuseHow to Recover From a Rejected Idea Your idea (you know, the one that you were convinced was genius) was just shot down by your boss, and you feel like you could react in one of three waysPretend you were only joking and then make a bunch of unconvincing, self-deprecating remarks about what a terrible suggestion that was.Act as if you have a super urgent commitment you forgot about, high-tail it out of that meeting, and then make your best effort to avoid your manager for the duration of your career.Immediately burst into tears.Or, if you want to be a real over-achiever, you could do none of those things and instead use one of these career-boosting phrases to bounce back from that rejection even better than before.1. How Do You Think This Could Be Improved?Your boss gave you that dreaded, Thanks, but no thanks. Well, thats the end of the road, right? Its time to drop that idea entirely and slink away with whatever shred of dignity you hav e left.True- you dont want to get into a heated debate with your teamberaterin about why your suggestion does indeed have some merit. However, that doesnt mean you need to just accept rejection at face value.In fact, leaders appreciate when their direct reports are willing to ask the tough questions and get clarification on which aspects of their ideas (if any) are worth exploring. Not only does this encourage a productive conversation (which usually brings some other helpful insights to light), but it also proves that youre willing to utilize that feedback to make improvements moving forward.Taking the extra step to get that added input means youll be able to pitch a more solid recommendation next time around- which, ultimately, is your boss goal. He or she wants you to be successful. 2. Ill See What Else I Can Come Up WithWhat inspired you to brainstorm that new method anyway? Chances are, you came up with it in order to solve a problem- a problem that very well might still need t o be addressed.Responding to your manager with a statement like this one proves that you arent just going to roll over in the face of defeat. You dont accept one rejection as your get out of jail free card to stop thinking and innovating altogether.So, after youve asked your boss for some additional feedback about why your idea didnt work as is (remember, that above question is great for that), explicitly tell your coach that youre going to take that information back to the drawing board and come up with something even better.Resilience and persistence are really admirable (and career-boosting) qualities in any employee.3. Thanks for the Consideration and FeedbackThere are those times when you just know your idea needs to be dropped- that youll never convince your boss that Fridays should be office-wide pajama days or that the break room vending machine should serve Gardettos exclusively. Not every suggestion deserves the same amount of pushback.So, if your supervisor has shot down your recommendation and you just want to leave it at that, a short response like this one is a good one to lean on.Its polite, professional, and gracious. Even if you wont be pursuing that plan any further, letting your manager know that you appreciate her even thinking it over is an effective way to move on from that failed suggestion with your reputation and relationship intact. Not having your ideas met with resounding praise and applause can be a bit of a brutal slap in the face. But, as with so many things in your career, its not always about what happens- its about how you react to it.So, the next time your boss shoots down your suggestion, resist the urge to suddenly fake a mysterious illness and instead implement one (or a combination of) these three phrases to bounce back- with no spontaneous crying required.

Wellness Programs for Police Officers

Wellness Programs for Police OfficersWellness Programs for Police OfficersIts no secret that physical and mental stress can have serious consequences for your well being. It shouldnt be surprising, then, to learn that researchers have found that working as a police officer can contribute to health problems. To combat the health hazards that come with policing, individual officers and entire agencies are looking to wohlbefinden programs for police and other criminal justice professionals. What Are Wellness Programs? According to the United States Department of Health Human Services, wellness programs are plans employers - like police departments or corrections agencies - can offer to their employees to encourage and promote healthy lifestyles. Usually, they consist of incentives for healthy choices. They might also mean consequences for poor health choices. An employer might offer plans to help members stop smoking, free gym memberships and weight loss programs to their employees . They may also include rewards - like extra money or vacation days - for officers who meet or exceed health goals. In short, wellness programs are designed to help keep workers healthy. Why Its Important to Promote Wellness Because of the physical rigors and stresses associated with criminal justice work, police and corrections officers can face a variety of health issues throughout their careers. Besides health issues, though, officers really need to be in good physical and mental health in order to do their jobs to begin with. Criminal justice agencies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars sending their applicants to physical fitness assessments, medical exams, and psychological evaluations. Once hired, though, thats often the end of the focus on officer health. In the meantime, many officers combine poor eating habits, physical and mental stress, and the fatigue that comes from long hours, overtime programs and shift work. All of that contributes to deteriorating health and , consequently, a less capable and reliable workforce. What Can Wellness Programs Do for Police Departments? The United States Centers for Disease Control cite multiple studies that detail why wellness programs make good business sense for employers. Specifically, theyve been able to show that healthier employees tend to be happier, which in turn makes them more productive. Even more significant for law enforcement and corrections departments, though, is the fact that improved employee health reduces absenteeism and on-the-job injuries. That means more people are coming to work and staying at work as opposed to calling in sick. Further, if people arent getting hurt at work, it means that not only are they able to continue being productive employees, but those employers have fewer liability costs that come with on-the-job injuries. Perhaps more importantly, though, is the fact that people who work for agencies with robust wellness programs tend to feel better about their employer . They report a sense that the agency really cares about them, and because of that, theyre more likely to keep working for the department instead of looking for jobs elsewhere. This can go a long way toward relieving the problem of turnover and employee retention in police departments. Why Should Officers Want Wellness Programs? Officers should want to work with their agencies to promote wellness so they can stay healthy and live longer. Criminal justice careers are dangerous enough without the added problems of poor health. Officers should be interested in taking advantage of any program that can help them survive the job. Police and corrections officers who remain healthy throughout their jobs are in much better shape to enjoy what life may bring to their careers. Wellness programs for criminal justice professionals can ensure officers enjoy long and happy retirements as their rewards for a good job done well.

How to Deal With Boss Unrealistic Expectations - The Muse

How to Deal With Boss Unrealistic Expectations - The MuseHow to Deal With Boss Unrealistic Expectations No one wants to disappoint his or her babo. Even if youre not always in agreement with your manager, if you respect him and generally want to do good work, you probably want to avoid doing anything thatll make him unhappy with you. But what if this person has such high expectations that you think theres no way you can live up to them? What happens if you departure to feel like his growing expectations are rahmen you up for failure?Its important to note that theres a fine line between a supervisor with high expectations who challenges you to do your best work and a babo with unrealistic expectations. The trick is to know which one youre dealing with before taking action. There are a few ways to spot the differences. A boss with high, but manageable expectations often has a record of successful employees that have advanced in their careers and moved into leadership roles. A manager w ith unrealistic expectations oftentimes has high turnover rates within his department and doesnt do a good job of preparing his employees for advancement opportunities. Whether your boss expects you to work with total disregard for work-life balance or expects high quality work delivered in an unrealistic timeframe, these pressures can cause a lot of stress and will eventually (or not so eventually) lead you to look for a new job.Once youve determined that your managers expectations are truly unrealistic, you can take action- without putting your job on the line. The key is to train your boss to lower his expectations to a reasonable, sane level. Your goal is to try and actually change your boss bad behavior. Its all about setting boundaries and being confident, firm, and consistent in your approach. 1. Respond to Late Night and Weekend Emails with TimelinesMany managers today expect their employees to be tuned into their work email at all times. If this is the case with your boss, theres probably not much you can do about it. In fact, I recommend always responding to emails outside of work hours if thats an expectation thats been set early on. However, my advice is that you dont respond with actual answers or completed work- unless youve been given an unmistakable, urgent deadline. Instead, give a reasonable timeline for which youll complete the assignment lay out a clear plan to avoid any subsequent confusion or further emailing. Try thisI reviewed your email and the assignment details. I will be able to have X deliverable completed and sent to you by 2 PM on Monday afternoon. Ill let you know if I have any questions as Im plugging away.Reply like this enough times, and your boss will start to recognize your boundaries. An acknowledgment of the request and a stated timeline provides peace of mind for your manager (you received and read the email) and reduced stress for you (youre available outside work hours to read and answer her emails, but youre not worki ng 24 hours a day). 2. Dont Wait to Be Told What to DoIf you have a boss that routinely waits until Friday afternoon to assign tasks that are due on Monday, take notice of this trend and work to change it. Instead of waiting for your assignment at 2 PM on a Friday, make a point to ask if there is anything you can get wrapped up before the weekend on Thursday afternoon. You might even suggest something to help things along. Heres what you can say,I finished X and Y, and Ive got some time left today to start looking at anything pressing for Monday. Let me know if I can begin working on insert name of potential project.Not only does this approach allow you to clear up your weekend and make it work-free, but it also shows that you are taking the initiative in asking for additional projects instead of surfing the internet while you wait for him to present you with your next task. 3. Team UpWhen your boss gives you a deadline that you know cannot be met during reasonable work hours, inste ad of staying up all night or missing a weekend getaway youve had planned for two months, request to have a colleague team up with you on the project. This allows you to further put boundaries in place and enjoy life outside of work. It can also have the added benefit of helping you build leadership skills. Suggest pairing up with a newer colleague or even an intern who is eager to prove herself. If you get the green light from your manager, you can delegate tasks and be the point-person throughout the project. The next time you receive an assignment that threatens to take over your Saturday and Sunday, approach your boss with thisThis is a meaty assignment, and Im happy to be heading it up, but if Monday is the hard deadline, I think itd be great to loop in Co-worker Name so we can divide, conquer, and turn in the highest quality work before the end of the workday.Having a can-do attitude and putting in extra hours at work when needed is important and likely to happen from time to time, but when your boss expectations are extreme and detrimental to either the quality of the work or your personal well-being, its necessary to speak up and modify whats expected so that you can thrive and make your manager happy. Never underestimate going the extra mile to prove yourself, but also be confident in your ability to draw clear lines between work and personal life. Photo of employee and boss courtesy of Shutterstock

Switching Industries Exec Tells All

Switching Industries Exec Tells AllSwitching Industries Exec Tells AllKevin left a top consumer products company and moved halfway across the U.S. to land the VP of international compensation role in financial services.When weighing the option to leave his job at a company that Fortune magazine named one of the most admired in the U.S. last year, Kevin framed the decision in terms of push and pull.Kevin, 45, of Missouri, intended to push himself out of a job he considered uncertain, and he expected his reputation and skills would pull him into the right company. He had not actively sought a job in 15 years, and most jobs along his career naturally evolved from his previous work. The push and the pull had always worked.Kevin knew he was ready to leave his job in executive compensation for a leading consumer brand. But where could he turn in an economy that leaves companies reluctant to bring aboard new talent?I think a lot of employers are in that frozen mode right now, he said. They do have openings. They do have a need but they are unwilling to commit to filling it because they dont really know what the next six weeks are going to hold. The problem is they are afraid to fill them because they really dont know whats coming down the pike. The rationale is if we have survived this long without somebody doing x, we can probably survive the next six months.Finding a job meant the HRLadder member would have to do mora pushing than he anticipated.Echoes of Ireland Kevin, who was born and raised in Ireland, sees parallels between the homeland he left behind in the 1980s and the current economic malaise. When he graduated from University College, in Dublin, in the late 1980s, the Irish economic boom known as the Celtic Tiger was not yet a cub. It was one of the darkest economic times in the countrys history, characterized by massive unemployment and emigration. We had some pretty rough employment. Basically it was pretty much a scramble to get what you could, he recall ed.He worked in a variety of different jobs. His first job out of school which he disliked was in advertising sales. He then took a copyediting job in publishing and segued into the financial side of credit control and credit management, almost by default. Like so many of his countrymen at the time, Kevin left Ireland, lured by the possibility of work elsewhere. London seemed a good launching point to capitalize on his experience in the credit field.After that, he took a fairly direct path upward in finance and then into treasury finance, picking up an MBA from the University of St. Louis along the way. He eventually made a horizontal shift from treasury into compensation based on his strong track record in the company. I think it would have been much harder to do that had I not been in a company where I was known and knew all of the background.Avoiding job-board spammailKevin started exploring online job sites in summer 2008. His first experiences were frustrating. You see someth ing that might be workable, so you put your resume up there and five minutes later, you are getting junk e-mails from all over the place for totally random jobs. Five seconds later, I took my resume down.Then Kevin tried Ladders. If you are reading the Wall Street Journal or the Financial Times online or any of the numerous publications that I look at online, you are going to end up bumping into an ad for Ladders. What I liked about Ladders was the fact that you are getting bona fide job opportunities. You are not getting peppered with junk mail, and when you do get approached, it is actually from legitimate people who have a legitimate reason to contact you.Kevin was open to opportunities across the U.S. Since I was nationally mobile, I thought it was appropriate to accept job offers from all around the country, he said. From application to offer and acceptance, the process took no more than six weeks. For him, the decision was an easy one.Being flexible to relocationBut the move w as more than a career move. It also meant uprooting his family from Missouri to the East Coast. Other than leaving some family behind, it was not readily such a big problem. But for my wife, it was much more so at an emotional level. He had not chosen the Midwest it had chosen him. He said changing geographic locations can be part and parcel of career development If you are able to be flexible with global locations, I think you make yourself that much more valuable because the company from a corporate perspective is able to deploy the assets that it needs in the places that it needs.While Kevin joined his new firm in early December, the company had made its offer a couple of months earlier before the economy bottomed out. I had dodged a bullet on that a little bit, he conceded. I was very lucky in timing my opportunity came probably just before the worst of the berichterstattung economically. Nevertheless, Kevin said he believes enormous opportunities still exist. He pointed out th at tough times completely change the dynamics of the competitive landscape. All of these bizarre things happening now create opportunity the prize will go to the persons who are best positioned to take advantage of it, who have got the scale, scope and size, the agility to take advantage of the opportunities as they arise.Kevin said he believes the key factor is to network like crazy and network smart. He compared a network to a garden something that must be nurtured, maintained and pruned. While hindsight is 20/20 for people who have already been impacted, it is never too late to start. If you come the first time to a network needing something, you have come too late. Talk to people for no reason at all. Do people favors. Feed into the network. It will then work for you at some point. It takes a while for networking to build up steam.

The Key to Successful College Resume

The Key to Successful College Resume What Is So Fascinating About College Resume? An individual must pick a specific type of Sample Resumes in Word depending on the necessity for the job, and the skills needed for the job. A sample of resumes also tells you whats hot in the region of your interest. Resume writing is among the most troublesome tasks you ever run into. Examples of Resume are vital for conveying your abilities and experiences in the most effective possible fashion, with precision. Continue reading to discover more, and dont neglect to have a look at our sample high school resume for inspiration No matter if you take advantage of an expert summary or a resume objective, the space under your heading needs to be utilized to summarize the remainder of your resume. With the key terms and structure of your resume working their magic, you arent very far from your fantasy job. If you worked during the summertime, be aya you have that too. The Downside Risk of College Resume You may consist of coursework which you think is noteworthy that would be a great add-on to the total document. You could stick to the guidelines given in the job resume template here and produce your own resume. The most commonly accepted resume formats are the very best. You just need to pick the one which you must use and then use your resume example in order to produce the very best letter for your resume. There are lots of examples of resumes, but you need to remain certain to create your resume and cover letter with your very own personal touch. For instance, if a resume template doesnt include a list of skills, but you desire to include one, you need to do so. The Best Format for Resumes for a single job seeker might not be the ideal one for a different. Definitions of College Resume Career Objectives are excellent for resumes with a particular purpose. High School Resume templates are a fantastic resource for such students. Students work out of fully equipp ed labs which have the identical high-tech equipment theyll see in the area. Include your high school in the education section when its the maximum level of education youve received. A thorough education section is the meat of a university student resume, so be koranvers you dont brush over it. The subsequent two samples each have a distinctive format and highlights depending on the career and college goals of two students. There are a number of student and teacher resumes here to pick from. The Benefits of College Resume Just make certain it is totally clean of whatever you wouldnt need a prospective employer to see. Maybe you did a great deal of volunteer work or fundraising during high school which might also be noteworthy for them to understand your own personal values and what sorts of things are important to you. An additional thing that should be noted, is that the college that youre applying to get the course which you wish to pursue. You can and ought to incorporat e anything that you believe is related to you as a student. Writing a winning college student career objective is a rather simple means to bolster your application for this internship or job youve got in sight. If the notion of a college admission resume is new to you, you may be wondering if its even required. Internships do more than give students a notion of what it is like to work in a specific field-they also teach about how to manage distinctive personalities in addition to the inherent pressure of growing work done on a deadline. Your education ought to be a focus in your resume. It is possible to also leave off any jobs that are entirely unrelated to the job which you desire. Resumes give potential employers a means to learn about applicants quickly and readily, and theyre your very first step toward new job opportunities. Even in the event youve never held an official job, its still true that you have life experience thats applicable to the work search. Conveying any particular accomplishments or leadership roles you might have had is essential. Lets walk through three distinct resumes for different kinds of post-college jobs. An interview could also be needed to land the job, but a resume is essential to begin the approach. It is possible to also list summer jobs. Showing you held a job, particularly for an extended duration, demonstrates youre reliable, dependable and a tough worker.

The public sector a world of opportunity

The public sector a world of opportunity The public sector a world of opportunityPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie ChunPeople have this idea that working in the public sector is all about boring jobs but it isnt. Ive had an extraordinary career doing terrific things that I believe in. Catherine Potter, Assistant Director, Indigenous Employment, Australian Public Service CommissionWhen you think of the public sector, do you still think of that old clich of drab workers wearing grey cardigans? Well think again, because the public sector is full of young and dynamic employees who enjoy the many opportunities and benefits offered by government employment. With a job in the public sector youll have choice, flexibility and diversity, work that can take you all over the country or overseas, competitive salaries, continual development and career progression, and some of the best working conditions around.The ageing of the workforce and upcoming retirement of baby boomers means that many ne w opportunities will open up for people wanting to enter the sector. The next decade will provide young professionals with many opportunities to participate in public policy, gain experience, take on responsibility and establish an exciting career in the public service, says Camille Goodman, Legal Officer, Attorney-Generals Department.So many opportunitiesThe public sector is the biggest employer in Australia, with the largest number of employees in education, administration, defence, health and community services. Jobs are available in every industry and at all levels, including everything from environmental management to communications, security, IT and social research. You could find yurself working for your local council, statutory authority, government corporation or state, territory or federal department. Opportunities in the public sector are both plentiful and diverse. There arent many limitations on the employment sectors you can work in. There are plenty of opportunities to work for government at all levels in metropolitan and regional areas. A number of my government colleagues have also worked for government departments overseas, says Georgina McCann, Manager, Policy, Department of Education and Training, Victoria. The skills and training you receive in the private sector are easily transferable to the public sector, and vice versa. I think the skills that you develop working in policy, like analysis, writing, research and stakeholder consultation, translate well to a variety of contexts within the public and private sectors, as well as internationally, says McCann. And unlike some sectors, the public service provides plenty of opportunities for both women and the young just over half of Australian Public Sector (APS) managers are aged under 45, 42 per cent of APS managers are women, and 35 per cent of senior executives are women.The benefits of government jobsContrary to the stereotype of government drones who waste time and barely work, you will have to be prepared to work hard for the public service but you will be well rewarded with almost unrivalled working conditions and benefits which include a good salary and leave conditions, flexible work practices, and professional development and progression. The public sector offers job security and conditions of service that the private sector may not be able to match. Another advantage of working in the public sector is having flexible conditions of employment. For example working in DFAT allows me to combine a career with my family of two small children, says Lynda Worthaisong, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Carla Zub, Asset Manager, Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, SA, agrees. The lifework balance in the government sector is fantastic. Provided that I work the core hours of 10.00 am 4.00 pm, I am able to work at my discretion as long as the deadlines are met. The flexible working arrangements also enable me to build up my hours so that I can have a flexi-day a month. Furthermora, many government departments support and encourage employees who pursue further study. We have a very generous higher education program for career development, says Chris Saunders, Human Resources Manager at the City of Sydney Council. Lisa Webber, Director of the Delivery Strategy Branch at the Department of Human Services, concurs and appreciates the many perks of her job. Being supported to undertake tertiary studies is a perk and very generous leave provisions is another long service leave is three months after ten years of service. Superannuation is also a generous scheme.Where to find government jobsMost government jobs are publicly advertised in newspapers, on agency websites, job search websites and the relevant departments website, and sometimes through recruitment agencies. All APS agencies advertise in the APS Employment Gazette, which is published weekly and can be accessed at www.APSjobs.gov.au. Each state also has its own jobs website, such as www.jobs.nsw.gov.au or www.jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/.Selection criteria nothing to fearMost government job applications require not only a resume, but a statement against the selection criteria. The selection criteria will set out specific criteria for the stelle youre applying for, and you will be expected to address each of the selection criteria in turn. You need to explain the relevance of your skills, experience, abilities and personal qualities as they relate to each criterion and the duties of the position. You also need to use specific examples from your professional experience, using the STAR approach situation, task, action and result. Answering these to the satisfaction of the selection committee is the only way to get over the line and make it to the next stage in the recruitment process. It is a good idea to obtain as much information as possible about the position duties and responsibilities, work environment and the department by reading the information provided in the selection documentation, speaking with the nominated contact officer and accessing information available on the departments website. This will enable you to be specific about how your skills and experience are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position, says Jan Blomfield, Head of Human Resources, Attorney-Generals Department. It takes some skill to answer selection criteria effectively, and if youre struggling, try using one of our templated selection criteria responses.Get the right qualificationsFor any professional specialist job in the public sector, you are going to need the relevant qualifications, whether that be a degree in public policy or accounting, or a qualification in administration, project management or community services. You should research the functions and responsibilities for the departments youre interested in, and the specific educational requirements they demand. Ensure that their values, interests and desire d skill sets align with yours. Certain jobs require specific degrees, but many public service jobs are open to those with more generalist degrees. While some departments require specific degree backgrounds and skill specialisation, the majority recruit from a wide variety of disciplines. Most departments accept applications from generalist and specialist degrees, says Carole Brown, Careers Advisor, Australian National University and National Vice-President, Australian Association of Career Counsellors. Generally a mix of qualifications, experience, attitude about work and fit with the workplace culture is what we are looking for although experience and attitude are perhaps the most important. In an increasingly competitive environment for good people, hiring for attitude and training for skills is coming to the fore, advises Stephen Grieves, Director, People Management and Development, National Archives of Australia.Graduate programsFor those starting out, graduate programs are o ne of the best ways to get your foot in the public sector door. Most federal, state and local government departments conduct specialist recruitment programs for graduates, school-leavers and non-graduates, as well as other interest groups. Examples include apprenticeships, youth programs and trades programs. Our department has a specific recruitment program that targets recent school leavers. The aim of the program is to attract young people to the more junior levels of the service and then to provide them with work placement rotations, learning and development and tertiary study opportunities to provide them with a solid foundation for an Australian public service career, says Cheryl Watson, Manager of Human Resources and Communication, Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Vy Duong applied for the graduate program in her final year of university (studying a Bachelor of Commerce at La Trobe University) and secured a position with the Department of Fin ance and Administration in Canberra. Vy says the on-the-job training she received as part of the graduate program was both practical and useful, and she urges final year students to apply early for graduate programs so they dont miss out. During my final year of study, I attended career seminars and expos at university and obtained information on different graduate programs. Working in the public sector is very exciting and rewarding because you are involved in current and often topical issues. You are also exposed to higher levels of responsibility earlier and to unique work opportunities not available in the private sector. The challenges are numerous and avenues for career development are many and varied, says Vuong.Government ResourcesGovernment communications officer sample resumeGovernment communications officer sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesNatasha Stott Despoja - Senator, South AustraliaInterested in becoming a?Management ConsultantHealth Information ManagerEnvi ronmental Health OfficerUrban PlannerRegional PlannerPopular Career Searcheshow to become an einwanderung officer in australiahow to become a Customs Officergovernment funded courses adelaidecertificate iv ranger in local governmentgovernment accredited courses in hypnotherapyGovernment CoursesBachelor of Cyber SecurityEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of Cyber SecurityEnquire Online Enquire OnlineGraduate Certificate of Development and Humanitarian ActionEnquire Online Enquire OnlineDiploma of GovernmentEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreCAREER ADVICEGovernment jobsNavy leadership program for womenIn an effort to improve opportunities for women in leadership roles in the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Government is expanding its Navy Womens Leadership Program in 2010.CAREER ADVICEWhat to do when you get fired lessons from our political leadersPoliticians have notoriously low job security, so if anyone knows how to get fired and move on, it sh ould be them, right? For better or worse, Marni takes a look at what we can learn from our esteemed leaders of the past.Government jobsLeadershipHow to become prime minister the path to the topThe road to the Lodge has sometimes been a rocky one, as recent events have demonstrated. The path can be arduous and is not for the faint-hearted.