Expressing your interest - some advice

With a number of projects moving through the approvals process, you will begin to see increasing calls for ‘Expressions of Interest’.  In the past year alone, INPEX, Gindalbie Metals, Otway Gas Project and Xstrata have all advertised for Expressions of Interest, and currently, on The Resource Channel you will find opportunities to lodge an Expression of Interest for a wide range of professional/technical and blue collar roles for Santos’ Gladstone LNG Project.  

When organisations (both employers and recruitment agencies) advertise for or accept expressions of interest, it does not necessarily imply they have a job right at that moment and are actively seeking.  It means they are building their database for future opportunities.  Our advice is to simply follow their online instructions and do as they ask.

As there are many projects which are still moving through the approvals process and will not be actively hiring for some time, it is therefore critical that you track your applications. 

It is likely that for some out actively seeking, you've got applications out with everyone, everywhere!  How are you keeping track?  Particularly with those that tell you they retain your details for a particular period (normally three months).

We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping a log of your applications - this can be done on an Excel spreadsheet, a Word document, written in a book, it doesn't matter.  The key is to knowing where you have applied, when you applied and what you applied for.  You also need to keep a note of any expression of interest you have lodged and when that might expire.

There is often a lag time between when you apply and when you may be contacted.  Typically, the contact comes out of the blue via a phone call and nothing looks worse than someone who has to ask ‘what did I apply for again?'!  To immediately impress, you must be diligent about your job search and how you present.

Which brings us to our next point – how you present over the phone.  The number of calls we, employers and agencies receive with a “Howdy, I’m looking for a job in mining” is concerning.  Consider it from our angle – how do you want me to respond to that?!

The questions are endless.  What do you do?  Do you have experience?  Are you prepared to do FIFO?  Where do you live?  What specific job do you want in mining?  And the list goes on.  For the recruiter fielding dozens of these calls or emails every day, this soon becomes tiresome and you are quickly relegated to the “too hard basket”.  YOUR job is to tell us specifically what type of job you are seeking, how you meet the criteria and when and where you can be available.  Simple. 

Similarly, do NOT send off emails with an extremely generic approach, like "willing to do anything" or "need a job, can you help?"  Recruiters are inundated with applications like this and they don't have the time to work out what you may be suited to or job you are seeking, if you'll do FIFO or residential, what your ideal salary is etc - that is YOUR job.  You have to make it as easy as possible for the recruiter to see ‘what's in it for me/the Company if I hire this person?'

Our advice is to take your time, consider who you are approaching, think about their needs, structure your resume accordingly and do as they ask, even with expressions of interest.  Where companies are seeking expressions of interest, we recommend you don't call.  Submit your resume with the knowledge that you may not hear for some time and that there may not be an opportunity immediately on offer.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - job search IS a job.  You can't send off hundreds of applications and expect that to be enough.  Think outside the box, network, and educate yourself on what is currently happening in the industry and what opportunities might present.  Be mindful how you behave in social settings and online.  For example, did you know that comment posts made on sites are not actually anonymous?  That if you were to make a derogatory comment against another person or an organisation, they can find out from the site you have posted on who you are and take action?  Whilst the current world of immediate communication has enormous benefit, I stress that you must use such forums responsibly.  Employers are becoming very savvy in how they collect information about YOU, a potential employee.  Just like you do your own homework - either online or in speaking with people - about a potential organisation, they are doing the same about potential candidates.