UNIT 2

Skillmax Resource Guide

READING JOB
ADVERTISEMENTS

SKILLMAX
RESOURCE
GUIDE 2012
SKILLMAX

2 SKILLMAX RESOURCE GUIDE 2012

UNIT 2: READING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

Contents
Welcome to Unit 2 4

Finding relevant job advertisements 5

Research activity 7

Interpreting advertisements 9
Activity 1 9
Activity 2 10

Abbreviations 11
Activity 3 11

Vocabulary 12
Activity 4 12

The contact person 14

Activity 5 14

Answers 15

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Welcome to Unit 2
Unit 2 focuses on the important skill of reading job advertisements.
You will read a variety of job advertisements and learn about common
abbreviations and vocabulary found in these advertisements.

Assessment
There is no formal assessment in Unit 2.

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UNIT 2: READING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

Finding relevant job advertisements

Newspapers and the Internet are the main sources of job advertisements. It is important to identify the
specific newspapers which are most appropriate for your particular requirements.

a Look at the table below for information regarding the different

newspapers available and the particular days for specific positions.

JOB ADS
Where and when to look

Saturday General/all positions NSW and Sydney area

Monday General including accounting
Tuesday Local government positions
A small IT section
Wednesday General/all positions including My Career
job information
Local council positions
Thursday Hospital and medical positions

Saturday General/all positions Australia wide including

Arts and Travel positions in Review section
Monday Racing industry, eg jockeys and horse trainers
Tuesday IT
Wednesday Higher education
Thursday Medical
Friday Aviation

Friday General/all positions

Sunday General/all positions - useful for part-time work

Weekly in your area

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b Jobs are advertised on the Internet by private companies,

recruitment agencies and commonwealth, state and local
governments. Advertisements on the Internet may require you
to answer questions and email your résumé and covering letter.
It is advisable to send these as attachments and not cut and paste
your documents.

THESE ARE THE WEBSITES THAT SKILLMAX STUDENTS HAVE FOUND THE MOST USEFUL.

THE TOP SITES:

www.alljobs.com.au
www.byron.com.au
www.careerone.com.au
www.employment.com.au
www.employmentnational.com.au
www.jobsearch.com.au
www.jobsearch.gov.au
www.mycareer.com.au
www.seek.com.au

THE CAREER AND JOB SCENE IN AUSTRALIA:

www.careers.gov.au
www.centrelink.gov.au
www.dewr.gov.au
www.graduatecareers.com.au
www.jobaccess.gov.au
www,jobguide.com
www.jobguide.deewr.gov.au

WAGES AND CONDITIONS:

www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au

STUDY, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS:

www.curriculum.edu.au
www.dest.gov.au
www.gradlink.edu.au
www.ozjac.com.au
www.studylink.com.au
www.uac.edu.au

As the cost of advertising in the paper increases and the Internet becomes more widely accessible,
more and more employers are advertising their jobs on the Internet.

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UNIT 2: READING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

Research activity
Have you found any other newspapers or websites which are useful in your job search?

Share this information with your colleagues.

c If you find a position which may be appropriate for you:

• First check that the position is relevant and matches your background or potential. It may be
useful to review the skills audit you completed in Module 1. Read the appropriate classification
in the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) and in the Job Guide.
• Then check that the location of the employer is a possibility. For example, do not apply for a job
in Wagga Wagga unless you mean to relocate.
• Familiarise yourself with a map or a street directory of the metropolitan area and the CBD.
You will also need access to an atlas or a detailed map of NSW and Australia, available in
local libraries.
• You should also be familiar with postcodes and telephone codes. These are given at the back of
the White Pages telephone directory or online at www.postcodes-australia.com/.

Postcodes indicate different states and territories:

New South Wales 2000 - 2999 South Australia 5000 - 5999

ACT 2600 - 2699 Western Australia 6000 - 6999
Victoria 3000 - 3999 Tasmania 7000 - 7999
Queensland 4000 - 4999 Northern Territory 0800 - 0899

Telephone codes are as follows:

02 New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory

03 Victoria and Tasmania
07 Queensland
08 South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory (including Broken Hill)

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BE AWARE! NOT ALL JOB ADVERTISEMENTS ARE GENUINE!

• Jobs that are not real jobs

Instead of being offered the advertised job, you are pressured into buying something, eg beauty
products.
• Training disguised as a job
Some jobs expect you to undertake an expensive private course with no real guarantee of a job at
the end.
• Misleading job description
Trainee Manager, Promotions Work can mean door-to-door selling only on a commission basis.
• Applying to a fax number only
Be cautious about sending your personal details.

BEWARE OF ADS LIKE THIS ONE

IMMEDIATE START
40 OPENINGS

Our warehouse has been flooded with orders for gifts, toys and
stationery. We require 40 hardworking individuals to start working
immediately. Earn up to $750 pw while being trained in areas of
sales and service, admin, warehouse control and management.

No experience necessary
Call now 9264 8976

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UNIT 2: READING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

Interpreting advertisements
Activity 1
Read the advertisements below quickly and underline the name of
the position and the location of each job.

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Activity 2
Once you have decided that the advertisement is appropriate, it
is important to take the time to analyse the advertisement. It is
essential to read every word in the ad.

For example, what do the following expressions mean in the ads on page 8? One has been
defined. Discuss the others with a group of classmates.

a enormous drive: having a great amount of energy and motivation to achieve job goals
b customer focused:
c camp management:
d robotic projects:
e age no barrier:
f understanding workers comp:
g computer literacy:

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UNIT 2: READING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

Abbreviations
In order to search effectively for a position that is relevant to you, you need to be familiar with
common abbreviations and vocabulary.

Activity 3
In pairs or groups, write down the meaning of the following
abbreviations. Also add any other abbreviations you know of.

Wages Conditions
neg
$26K
o.t. avail.
cas. pos.
Secretary
We are seeking a highly exp. secretary to
$45,000 p.a. perm. pos.
work in our Legal Branch. Must have 60
$450 p.w. temp. pos. w.p.m., good communication skills and
$18 p.h. F/T be self motivated. Salary 30K (neg.) p.a.,
$50K neg P/T some o.t. req. Duties: w.p., reception,
$60-70K+ bonus pw-p/wk preparing legal reports and documents.
circa $55,000 hrs Temp. pos. for 6 mths.
comm wk Apply in writing by 9/10/09.
Ms A Wong
Experience Education, skills and training Manager, Legal Branch
exp. nec. quals COMPAC Ltd., P.O. Box 555,
exp. adv. MYOB OXTOWN 1234
exp. pref Cert. IV req. Phone 9555 5555
prev. exp. ess. HSC
min. 2 yrs. exp. 60 wpm This advertisement, like many others, uses
no exp. nec. ref. req abbreviations to save space and money.
req. MS Word Here is a list of some other most commonly
p.a. adv. Word & Ppoint used abbreviations:
CAD appt - appointment
o.t. - overtime
The position Applying for the job K - thousand
snr b.h. p.t. - part time
jnr a.h. pos. - position
mgr a.s.a.p. req - required
mgmt CV wpm - words per minute
c.o.b. cas - casual
info. info - information
appt. neg. - negotiable
pw - per week
The employer Affirmative action prev - previous
loc. AA temp - temporary
CBD QA exp - experienced
Pty Ltd B2B hrs - hours
CEO B2C p.a. - per annum
MD HR pref - preferred
EEO/OH&S RCSA quals - qualifications
w.p. - -word processing
wk - week

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Vocabulary
Job advertisements also include formal expressions or phrases specific to jobseeking;
some of these are most often seen in public sector advertisements.

Activity 4
Match the phrases in bold on the left with the definitions on
the right.

a familiar with a team of mixed professionals/positions

b desirable we will train you in this area

c ability to work under minimum we employ and promote on merit only

supervision

d will need a sound knowledge of trial period - usually 3 months

e remuneration package have experience with

f a hands-on knowledge of considered very important although not

essential

g salary commensurate with will need to have a very good knowledge of

h pro rata better pay/conditions than legal minimum

i ability to meet deadlines percentage of annual or full-time salary

j we are an equal employment a practical knowledge of, not just theory

opportunity employer

k salary circa $55,000 able to get work completed on time

l product training will be given salary + superannuation + other benefits

m demonstrated ability in wages calculated on experience and

qualifications

n ability to work with multi-disciplinary team salary is about

o above award salary and conditions can show achievement in ability area

p probation can work alone without need for constant

supervision

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a duty statement HR manager supervises the position

b with a proven track record in document defining work responsibilities

c will report to the HR Manager with a successful work history

d a willingness to match what we need

e commencing salary is negotiable having ability to do something

f a monthly rostered day off/RDO ready and happy to

g with a practical knowledge of will be advantageous to your application

h listen to our customers’ needs in private/secret

i a can-do attitude is looking for a person

j will be favourably considered positive attitude in overcoming difficult work

situations

k for initial enquiries contact pay can be discussed

l in strict confidence pay attention to what clients want

m is seeking the services of… have good courteous telephone skills

n if you fit our requirements for more information

o have a good telephone manner flexitime with one 4-day week a month

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The contact person

Activity 5
Find and write the name or position of the contact person in the ads
on page 9.

a —————————————————————————————

b —————————————————————————————

c —————————————————————————————

d —————————————————————————————

e —————————————————————————————

f —————————————————————————————

g —————————————————————————————

It is important to telephone the contact person in the company or organisation to find more
information about the position you are applying for. This will help tailor your application and interview
answers to the position. Having the person’s name will also allow you to address your cover letter
directly to the appropriate person. Besides being polite, this also demonstrates your initiative in
sourcing this additional information even if it is not provided in the advertisement.

Discuss in groups what you would do when a contact name is not

given in the job ad.
eg: how would you find the name of the HR Manager in ad number a or the person to telephone and
forward your résumé to in ad number d on page 9?

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UNIT 2: READING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

Answers
ACTIVITY 1
a branch manager – Brisbane or Melbourne
b engineer – Sydney
c camp/catering manager – Mara region, Tanzania
d robotic engineer– Melbourne
e graduate mining engineer – Brisbane
f accounts clerk/bookkeeper – Warwick Farm area
g instructor in transport and warehousing – based in Sydney but need to travel within
state, interstate and overseas

ACTIVITY 2
a having a great amount of energy and motivation to achieve job goals
b focused on ensuring customers are satisfied with service and products
c management of temporary settlements established on mine site
d projects working on the development of machinery built and programmed to
do tasks which humans usually do
e no restrictions on age
f understanding the rules and regulations of the workers compensation scheme
g able to use various programs on computers

ACTIVITY 3
Wages Conditions
negotiable overtime available
$26,000 casual position
$45,000 per annum permanent position
$450 per week temporary position
$18 per hour full-time
$50,000 negotiable part-time
$60,000-$70,000 + bonus per week
around $55,000 hours
commission week

Experience Education, skills and training

experience necessary qualifications
experience an advantage Mind Your Own Business program
experience preferred Certificate IV required
previous experience essential Higher School Certificate
minimum 2 years’ experience 60 words per minute
no experience necessary references required
required Microsoft Word
per annum advanced word processing & PowerPoint skills
Computed Aided Drafting

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The position Applying for the job

senior business hours
junior after hours
manager as soon as possible
management curriculum vitae
close of business
information
appointment

The employer Affirmative action

location affirmative action
central business district quality assurance
propriety limited business to business
Chief Executive Officer business to consumer
Managing Director human resources
equal employment opportunity/ Recruitment Consulting Services of Australia
occupational health & safety

ACTIVITY 4
A B
a have experience with a document defining work responsibilities
b considered very important although not essential b with a successful work history
c can work alone without needing constant supervision c HR manager supervises the position
d will need to have a very good knowledge of d ready and happy to
e salary + superannuation + other benefits e pay can be discussed
f a practical knowledge of, not just theory f flexitime with one 4-day week a month
g wages calculated on experience and qualifications g having ability to do something
h percentage of annual or full-time salary h pay attention to what clients want
i able to get work completed on time i positive attitude in overcoming difficult
j we employ and promote on merit only work situations
k salary is about… j will be advantageous to your application
l we will train you in this area k for more information
m can show achievement in ability area l in private/secret
n a team of mixed professionals/positions m is looking for a person
o better pay/conditions than legal minimum n match what we need
p trial period - usually 3 months o have good courteous telephone skills

ACTIVITY 5
a N/A
b N/A
c Managing Director
d N/A
e HR Manager
f N/A
g Michelle Hart

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