please please please please hire me

[labellementeuse]

I'm applying for a couple of summer internships with The Government or, actually, that much more scary part of it known as The Public Service, this is terrifying the shit out of me. They are asking me questions like "Please briefly describe a project or task that you have initiated, organised and completed which had difficult obstacles to overcome in order to complete it." and "Describe a situation where you had to work effectively with others in order to complete a task or achieve a goal. What was the outcome?" and "If you were a chief policy advisor in the agency [in which you are applying for a position], what is a major policy issue you'd provide your Minister with advice on and why?" I am having a crisis of confidence in a MAJOR WAY.

I mean, I'm looking at my work history, and it's like, Caltex, Starmart, Caltex, Starmart, Starmart, Spotless Services, Next Stop Earth, and you know, I was thinking that it looks good to have the same people keep re-employing you every time you turn around, like, hey, consistency, but then I was like, hey, it's probably less good when it's STARMART and they're hiring you because THEY'RE TOO LAZY TO TRAIN MORE IDIOTS. And really this whole thing is a giant plea that reads OMG DUN MAKE ME WORK AT STARMART FOR THE FOURTH SUMMER IN A ROW PLZ.

what can I do to make myself look employable? they don't actually speak to me (AFAIK) and I don't include a CV or a cover letter or anything. this is making me craaaaaaaazy. dear flist who works in the public sector, what are some major do's and don't's (other than... don't have political commitments.) SO THE WRONG TIME TO BE ASKING FOR HELP RIGHT. dear public sector, I actually don't give a SHIT about your neutrality except that it's OK I suppose in a way, please please please please hire me. I am clever and hard working and I'll probably give you my firstborn if I can just please leave customer service this summer.

TELL ME I'M FABULOUS OR I'LL SLIT MY WRISTS. OMG. alternately give me lots and lots of good advice that will lead to me being hired. also, I'm really annoyed that I won't be able to use, like, myriadwords, because I am proud of my work there and I think it's something I have accomplished. But I'm guessing the state services commission probably wouldn't see it that way.

Comments

[anna-en-route.livejournal.com]

a) You're fabulous and have almost the same amount of work experience that I did when I got an *actual* long term job in the public sector.

b) You're a university student, you get to cite the projects that you've done at uni as relevant experience (in fact they're probably expecting you to).

c) How about volunteer stuff? They're looking for experience, not whether you got paid to do it.

d) When all else fails, high school stuff is a possibility.

Below is all of the stuff that you probably know anyway,

Do:

Empahsise your communication skills (and back this up by making sure your writing is clear and concise)

If it's relevant, cite treaty knowledge (at stats, it's important because the information we release can have an impact on treaty claims)

Think about what you'd be looking for if you were reading the letter.

Read your letter out loud and get someone else to read it.

Don't:

Come accross as negative about previous employers/co-workers(you prolly already know this)

Waffle (again, I suspect you don't anyway).

Include any spelling or grammer mistakes (well duh...)

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

I really appreciate all of this advice!!

I haven't done any projects at uni. and I don't volunteer except for... the Labour party. and. and. *feels inadequate* fortunately, I did HEAPS of crap at school. thank you again! this is really useful.

[anna-en-route.livejournal.com]

Quite honestly if you have relevant project based experience volunteering for the Labour party then cite that.

They don't expect you to have no politics at all, they just expect you to approach your job with neutrality.