In order to find a suitable government job it is important to know where to look. This means finding out which government bodies and departments are likely to be recruiting people with your skills, and where the vacancies will be listed.

In addition to its federal government, Australia is governed at the state and territory levels.

Federal job vacancies are advertised in the APS gazette. These vacancies are available online at http://www.apsjobs.gov.au. Searches can be narrowed down by location, type of work and government department, and it is possible to arrange for new jobs that match your criteria to be emailed to you every week.

Federal departments usually also advertise their vacancies on their own websites. If you are interested in working for a particular department then you can find out more about them and any vacancies from their site. The Australian military is a major recruiter. Defense jobs are advertised at http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/.

State and territory governments and local councils also list job openings on their own websites, and they often offer some careers advice and information about what it is like to work for them. Links to the jobs sites of the territories and states can be found at http://australia.gov.au/topics/employment-and-workplace/state-and-territory-government-jobs. Council websites can be accessed through http://www.alga.asn.au/links/obc.php.

Government departments may also offer internships and programs for young people, students and recent graduates. The federal government runs an apprenticeship in information and communication technology, for example. Details at http://www.finance.gov.au/e-government/strategy-and-governance/ict-apprenticeships.html.

Government vacancies can be found offline by directly contacting the department or through contacts already working in the government.

The interview is a good chance to find out what it would be like to work for your potential new employer. You might want to ask the interviewer about this, and the general atmosphere and culture of the company. Is it very formal, or are they more relaxed and friendly?

Alternatively, you could focus more on the position itself. If you are unsure of exactly what it will involve, then try asking about the duties involved and what a usual day of work will involve. You may also want to ask about any training that is offered and how the role might develop in the future. Are there likely paths of promotion or plans to add new aspects to the role?

There are a few more immediate questions that you may want to ask before you leave. It will usually be a good idea to ask when you should expect to hear from them. This will allow you to make plans for any follow up calls or letters, and it will give you a date after which you can move on to look for other opportunities if you have not received an offer.

Phone interviews need to be approached with the same attitude as normal interviews. This means that you need to prepare for them in exactly the same way. Plan out the main points that you want to say, particularly any examples of work you have done in the past that proves you can do the job you trying to get. As you will be talking over the phone you can keep a list of these points handy, but don’t be tempted to plan entire answers, as you will probably sound stilted when you read them out.

Make sure that you are ready when they call. If you have arranged a time for the phone call then you should prepare a quiet space and get rid of any distractions or background noise. Arrange for anyone who lives with you to be out of the way during the interview. If you are not sure exactly when they will call then make sure you are quick to answer the phone, do so in a professional manner- and make sure that anyone else who might answer the phone will do so politely.

Having a good phone manner will be important. Speak slowly and clearly, and be polite and professional. This will be especially important when you are applying for a job that will involve dealing with people over the phone as the interviewer will be assessing your ability to do so as well as learning more about you.

It can help to sit at a desk or dress as if this was a face-to-face interview. If you feel professional, you are likely to sound more professional too.

Phone interviews can be followed up with a letter or email to thank the interviewer and show them how keen you are to get the job.

It seems obvious, but it is all too common for people to send out applications and resumes with basic grammar and spelling mistakes in them. Make sure that you use the spell-check function, and also read through to pick up any errors that it cannot correct.

Use a font that is easy to read. Don’t make it too small, and don’t add any unnecessary decoration. Your resume should look clear and business-like. Bullet points and sub-headings are useful ways of grouping and organizing information.

Address all your communications clearly and to the right person. Always use a name if you can, rather than the generic “Sir/Madam”, and make sure that it is spelt correctly.

Your own contact details should also be included, and they should be correct and current. You don’t want to miss out on a job because you used an old phone number or made a mistake in your email address. If you are including an email address then make sure it is one that sounds professional rather than funny or silly. Get a new account that is separate from your personal one, if you need to.

You will need to write a cover letter to go with your resume. This is how you will introduce yourself to your potential employer. Set it out as a business letter, and write it with as much care as you do your resume. Keep it short. Use it to point out the most important elements of your resume and how you meet the requirements described in the job advertisement. Write a new cover letter for each application rather than sending out a generic version.

Before you go to an interview, you should find out as much as you can about the job you are applying for and the company. Make sure you know the name and position of the person who will be interviewing you. Go through the list of requirements that they are asking for and work out how you can prove that you fulfill each of them, for example by giving examples from your previous work experience.

You also need to make sure that you arrive in time. Plan your route ahead of time, and if possible, test it out so you know how long it will take you to get there. Aim to arrive about ten minutes early on the day.

During the interview, try to be confident but not overconfident. Don’t act as if you already have the job, but make sure that you sell yourself. Your preparation should have given you a list of examples that show how well suited you are for the position. Now you can share them with the interviewer.

Make a good impression by behaving professionally. Be courteous and avoid saying anything bad about your previous employers. Try to be friendly and positive without being overly familiar. Your interviewer is potentially your new boss, so treat them as such.

Follow up with a letter after the interview to thank your interviewer personally. This is also an opportunity to add any points that you forgot to mention in the interview.

Your body language says a lot about how confident you are feeling. Stand up straight and don’t slouch when you sit down. Look people straight in the eye, but don’t stare at your interviewer for the whole interview. Make sure you can give a good handshake, firm and fairly brief. If you get sweaty hands when you’re nervous then keep a tissue handy so you can wipe them before you go in for the interview. Remember to smile.

The way you dress can also be important. Wear something that is suitable for the job you are trying to get. If the company has a dress code then stick to it. If you are not sure what to expect then remember it is better to be too formal or conservative then to be too casual or shocking.

Come to your interview prepared. Think of answers to some of the most common interview questions, and come up with some examples of things you have done that demonstrate your skills and experience. If you are very nervous then get a friend to practice with you.

Making a good impression can be useful, not just for interviews, but elsewhere in your working life. If you have to ask your boss for something, or you are trying to get a point over in a meeting, then doing so in a professional manner will help you to succeed.

Since social networking sites are very populated with people from all walks of life, it would be an essential part to your job search to join many of them.  Let this be the first thing you do if you are looking for a job in Australia or any other country.  Most countries have access to social networking sites and it is an easy task to join.  Just fill out a simple and short form.  Be sure to join these sites for a start, they are the most popular: MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Bebo.  When you spread out your network, it builds your chances of getting a job, whether in Australia or any other country.

After you have joined several social networking sites, be sure to fill out your profile and add a good picture.  Put in important information, perhaps details explaining your experience and skills, almost like a resume.  This is crucial to your success in finding a job.  Employers look at social networking sites now and will not be embarrassed to look for your profile.  Many times this is the yes or no to their decision for hiring you.  Just be sure to focus your profile on the type of job you are trying to get.

Forums are places to join and network with people within the same field where you are trying to get a job.  They say, surround yourself with things you want and they will come.  Who knows when you will meet the person ready to give you a dream job.

Maintain your profile if you are looking for a job.  Update it periodically, and stay on top of things that may change.  Build your network, and never stop doing it.  When you spread the word that you are job searching, there is likely someone that will be able to help.

The real question is why are we switching jobs? Is is because, we are not dependable and cannot take responsibility for holding our job? If that is the reason then you my friend are heading down the wrong path. If you are merely trying to find yourself then job switching would be the right direction to take. Employers know that business and types of work needed is not stable and employees are hired for what is needed now. You need to find your important skills.

There are six reasons why we might have to do job switching so often. The first one is if you hate your job so much you will become less productive and begin to professionally destroy yourself due to the job no longer stimulates you. The second if you realize you need more responsibility and the job you are doing will not allow you to grow. If you get tired of making someone else money and want to begin to make yourself money and start your own business. Another reason we might job switch, we simply get fired due to company downsize. The last reason would be if you really do not like your boss. He might not treat us with respect, trust his employees, or he is just rude, then you need to leave before you no longer have a choice.

Is job switching bad or good? It is really hard to answer that now. It is safe to say it really depends on why we are switching jobs. remember it is better to switch jobs to find your calling than never to get there.

Some people limit themselves to only a particular job that they have either been trained to do have been doing all along.  For instance, an out of work nurse will stay at home and scour the newspaper advertisements for nursing positions in hospitals, often remaining out of work for several months because she cannot find a position similar to what she was doing.  But, a solution can be had if she remembers that she is much more than her past.

That very same nurse could market herself not just in a hospital setting, but, any number of other areas where nurses can be found.  These places include schools, private practices, home care, resorts, and even cruise ships.  There are many non-traditional locations where traditional positions can be found.

To be more successful, you should get your resume properly done and know how to market yourself.  Register with temporary agencies, online employment sites, and contact family and friends to let them know that you are seeking full time employment.  Ask them to keep you informed if they should hear of anything in your field.  The more avenues you explore, the greater your chances of finding full time employment.

Another angle that often works is to volunteer or accept a part-time position and then parlay that into full time employment.  Remember, sometimes you may have to temporarily take something that you may not want in order to position yourself for something that you do.

Finally, seeking full time employment can be full time job in itself.  Take the time to interview at all open positions in your field, post your resume in online employment search engines, and also take the old-fashioned direct way, by simply walking in and applying where you’d like to work.  These tactics can prove to be quite fruitful in your search.  But, no matter which of these you choose, it is important that you should stay proactive in your search for full time employment.  Being complacent only means you will surely not become gainfully employed.

A part-time job isn’t something where you have to grab the first one that presents itself. For busy moms, that would just turn into a nightmare. Scheduling conflicts leading to missed time at work would eventually add up and either cause you to be fired or you having to cut back on home related activities. Some industries, and employment opportunities, are almost tailor made for busy moms. Here’s just a few.

1. Substitute Teacher

In most states you don’t need any type of certification to be a substitute teacher. Other places might require a certification course or maybe some college credits. However, offering your time to fill in at your local school when the regular teacher can’t make it will help you earn extra income while still being available for before and after school events.

2. Temp Worker

When a company needs temporary help -  if someone went on maternity leave, is on extended sick leave, on vacation, or for a temporary project – they will seek out the services of a temporary worker. A busy mom could take on this temporary position to help out with finances, while knowing the job isn’t permanent so slight changes in family schedule won’t be long lasting.

3. Freelancing Opportunities

Something that can be done at home would be ideal for a busy mom. Freelancing is a great way to both set your own hours, work on projects you want, and still provide financially. Writing, taking photos, capturing videos, interior designing, and a host of other similar jobs can be done on a freelance basis.

4. Virtual Assistant

Another great part-time job, and a way to stay at home, is to find work as a virtual assistant. Basically, this job requires you to be connected to an internet connected computer and a phone. You help others answer phone calls, emails, and other administrative tasks. This is quickly becoming on of the largest part-time jobs for moms for a good reason. It is in high demand and moms can do it in their spare time.

A part-time job is something that not only adds to a family’s finances, but also gives a busy mom some semblance of identity. Find your next part-time job in the above fields or check your local newspaper for something that is flexible for a busy mom.