Job search tips that make a real difference…

Whether you’re actively on the hunt for a new role or just passively looking at what’s going on in the job market, we've compiled a few tips to revamp your search to get the best out of your job hunting!

Network, network and network some more!

This is crucial - here at Specialty Fashion Group, the first thing our recruitment team do when embarking on a new search is to review who’s in our network/ talent pool. You need to network and create relationships with recruiters as well as directly with companies you are interested in regardless of job search status. You never know when you will want to tap into your network. Think outside of job hunting; you might want to call on some market intelligence, a consulting offer or competitor information!

You would be surprised at the amount of roles employers do not advertise; therefore don’t rely on your typical job boards, wishing and hoping your dream role will just appear! This is where your network is crucial - key relationships are at a core of how you tackle your job search and networking will be instrumental to finding and securing the perfect job for your career progression.

Follow-up

Do you want to leave a great impression? Do you want to leave a lasting impression? Then follow up!! Make notes of who you have contacted and when, then diarise a follow up with those professionals you want to keep in contact with. A quick phone call, short email or Inmail via LinkedIn means that you remain front of mind and demonstrates your interest in actually working for the company. Persistence is key and it definitely pays off! (Just don’t harass them!)

Get social

Like, share, follow & comment!! Social networking on various platforms is a great way of getting insights into the organisations you are interested in. Companies are increasing turning to social media tools to connect with talent. Sometimes advertising a role but more often than not showcasing what it is like to work for their business. Follow companies that interest you on LinkedIn, like their pictures on Instagram, share their content on Facebook! By becoming their biggest fan and a brand advocate you are demonstrating genuine interest and gaining knowledge about the business.

Identify yourself with a top-notch cover letter and resume

Show your skill set, abilities and accomplishments with a clearly organised and well thought out resume. Here are some tips:

• Don’t over complicate it with fancy font’s and borders
• Check  spelling grammar & syntax 
• Do not include a photo
• Make sure all your contact details are there 
• Check that your work history is chronological 
• Explain any gaps in employment that are longer than six months 
• Keep the length of the document appropriate to the volume of experience you have – if you have two years’ experience don’t send us a seven page resume! 

It won’t be a sure successor to landing you the job, but a bad resume with errors and a poor layout will eliminate you.

Job Alerts

Not actively looking around but still curious to know what’s going on out there in the market? For all the passive job seekers, why not let the jobs come to you? Sign up to receive job listings by email from a range of websites that are tailored to what you are looking for. This tip is a great time-saver plus you can track what’s going on in the market & industry.

As a recruitment team, we encourage our candidates to keep in touch with any changes in their situation even if at the time we don’t have a suitable opportunity. By developing those professional relationships, along with persistence and interest in a company, you’ll be the first to be contacted when a new opportunity arises!

Best of Luck!!!

SFG Recruitment Team xx

Anything is possible.........

Knowledge is power 

This weekend 20 SFGer’s headed off to the Women on Top Conference held in Sydney. This was a forum for smart and savvy business women to share their secrets to getting on top in business and in life. The day was filled with learning & being inspired by women at the top of their game from all walks of life. We took something away from their stories and journeys - for ourselves personally as well as for our careers @ SFG.

Here are some of our key takeaways:

• Amanda Gore introduced us to The Joy Project… remember that your thinking determines your story, which determines your beliefs & behaviours - be conscious of your thinking & what you say out loud. So be a spirit ‘igniter’ not a spirit ‘foofer’, eradicate fear, find your joy spot & leave joy bombs all around the office. 

• Mia Freedman took us on the journey of remembering not to compare our behind the scene life with other people’s highlight reel. She wanted to change the conversation of women by women for women. Make sure you build strong foundations, so that when the wind blows you’re ok. Life balance is about setting boundaries & the art of delegating is about managing your ego. 

• Louise Fowller & Loral Langemeier talked about having self-worth; looking for things to give yourself credit for, create a deep fulfilling life by selling from your souls rather than selling your soul (why do you come to work every day?). So live out loud, say yes & worry about ‘how’ later, find a person that knows how to do that thing better than you & then do as they say. Design a life/career you want.

• Chloe Morello showed us that anyone can be successful if you’re passionate about your strengths & skills. We also learnt some interesting things about monetising social media.

•  Lisa Messenger taught us to ‘know our why”. Have purpose, passion and say yes & figure out how later. Be a disruptive entrepreneur, be nimble flexible & fast. Feed your soul and your brain by talking, following & being inspired by others. Finally, get feedback - listen, shift your thinking & ask what you can do with it. 
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           A big "Thank you" to all the lovely ladies for attending; we hope you all enjoyed it and left feeling inspired and empowered! If you would like further information on the event please go to their website http://womenontop2015.com/ 
      
      Team Member Testimonials:
      "It was a fascinating insight into how women who have overcome careers that had both turbulent times and amazing times but learnt from the two are still passionate about what they believe in and what/who they work for. It was lovely to see they are now living the dream with jobs that they love with values they believe in!" Laura, from Millers Marketing Team  

Top 5 questions to ask in an interview

"Do you have any questions for us?"

It’s the one question that comes out in just about every interview but many job seekers out there overlook preparing for this.  

As the recruitment team here at Specialty Fashion Group, we encourage candidates to ask questions at an interview as it demonstrates a candidates’ interest in the job and their enthusiasm to work for our company. Asking questions helps build rapport with your interviewer and enables you, as the candidate, to get a good idea if the company is really where you want to work.

We have complied a list of the top 5 questions you could ask in an interview – Obviously, there loads more to consider but we think if you prepare a list of a few good questions to bring to an interview, you’ll be on the fast track to success and landing your dream job!

1. Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
Don’t forget how much a company culture can impact your job performance. Generally speaking, this is a great question to show your interest in hearing about the company culture and how your personality would fit into the current team. A company is defined by its culture, values and core purpose. Get a good understanding of this aspect to ensure you understand how you will contribute to the team. 

2. What qualities and skills will make me successful in this job and what are some of the challenges I might face?

This question is great for demonstrating your ambition to succeed as well as gathering an insight into the expectations of role. As you query the challenges that may be faced, this helps to bring out possible skill gaps and highlights areas for growth and development.

3. What are the opportunities for growth and development within the company?
Show your interest in the job by emphasising you are looking for a stable long-term opportunity with prospects for growth, development and a strong desire to improve and learn new things. By putting this question forward, you are showing curiosity in making a difference in the company and a willingness to participate in training for self-improvement.
 
4. What does a typical day in the job look like?
An interview can only give you so much information about the company and role. A great question to ask is what the actual day-to-day duties will involve and how a normal working week will look. You want to ensure this is the right job for you from the onset and by hearing what the responsibilities involved would be, it shows you are realistically considering the role and how well you will fit into the job.
 
5. What is the next step in the process?
A vital last question not to be overlooked by any candidate as it shows your interest in moving forward to the next stages of the recruitment process and gives you the clarity around time frames to help manage your expectations. 
 

With this interview preparation on some of these key questions we can assure you will be well on your way to landing that dream job you've always wanted!

Best of luck!

SFG Recruitment Team

Meet the team - blog post from our new Team Member, Jess!

Meet Jess our new Return to Work Administrator in our Support Office HR team. In this blog Jess talks us through her choice in degree, tips for graduates and her experience at SFG so far! Over to you Jess……

Why did you choose an HR degree?

I originally started out doing a mix of commerce and primary school teaching. After about three weeks into my degree I had fallen in love with the commerce aspect and especially the HR subjects. From recruitment through to occupational health & safety I knew I was on the right path because they all involved working with people and influencing strategic business decisions. HR is an evolving profession and I’m excited to be part of that innovation and problem solving along the way.

What areas of HR engaged you most whilst studying?

My favourite subjects were defiantly Training & Development as well as International Human Resources. Training and development taught me about engaging with an audience and understanding that each individual has their own preferred way of learning; this has already helped me in my HR career and studies especially when I have to do presentations.

What other jobs have you had prior to SFG?

My first ever job was at a local cafe, I worked for maybe two weeks before it was obvious that hospitality was just not for me! Not to mention, I'm not the greatest cook, the omelette I made last night that somehow turned into scrambled eggs is proof of that!

Although it’s early days the best job I’ve had so far would have to be the one I am currently doing. I have been working as the Return to Work Administrator at SFG for just over one month and have learnt so much already. The HR team have welcomed me with open arms and I already feel like part of the family. The role is really varied; I spend a lot of the day on the phone speaking with team members up and down the country and no two people are the same. Each person is an individual and all circumstances are different and require a unique approach which is why I'm loving this role; I'm constantly learning new things!

What advice would she give to other graduates?

First up - get some experience. I know this can be tricky for graduates but I believe every bit of work experience counts!

Before I started working at the Support Office for SFG I was living in Shellharbour and working part-time in Retail as well as studying for my degree full-time. I was actually working in store for our Autograph brand.

I was lucky enough to secure an HR internship at a company called, Hilti and on my only day off I would drive up to Sydney from the South Coast. The internship was great - I was mostly focused in the recruitment team where I learnt the basics right through to being given the opportunity to present to the senior management team. All of this has proven to be really useful in my new role at SFG as I felt I could really hit the ground running and add value from day one.

It can be a tough world out there for graduates. There is so much pressure to get that perfect job and sometimes you can just feel like another number. But for me it was all about choosing a company with a great culture that I could really see myself fitting into. I wanted a good job but I also wanted to be happy in my role and be with an organisation where I can have fun!

Once you have worked out the type of company you want to work for I suggest a bit of a stalking!! Now, I'm not talking about waiting outside reception ready to pounce on the first HR person you see but rather getting social and connecting with professionals. Get yourself onto LinkedIn, follow what your preferred companies are doing, research their website and connect with the key stakeholders in the business.  

Next, and most importantly, is to tailor your resume to every job you apply for. Yes I know this can be time consuming but trust me I've been there. If a recruiter can see that you have read the job description and explained where your skills, experience or study matches those requirements they're looking for you will be moved to the top of the list. Just make sure you use examples, where possible, that are measurable and to show you're genuine interest in the position.

What’s your impression of SFG so far?

SFG is like one big family. As you can expect, on my first day I was quite nervous but when I arrived, waiting for me on my desk, was a welcome card that the whole HR team had signed. It made me feel so at ease and I felt like this was the place that I am meant to be. My team have been incredibly patient with me and my billion questions a day! It’s been the small things, like people coming up to introduce themselves and welcoming me to the team when I bump into them in the kitchen which has made settling in very easy and enjoyable.

Tell us a bit about Jess - what do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time I like to work on my personal Blog and YouTube channel. I started a plus size fashion Blog about two years ago and it has opened up so many windows of opportunity. A new avenue for me has been adding a beauty aspect to my Blogging on YouTube which has been so much fun! Also, I have just moved from the South Coast to Sydney so I’m spending lots of my spare time exploring new places to go out with friends in this beautiful city of Sydney.

Welcome Jess- we hope you have a long and successful career with Specialty Fashion Group! 

The latest catwalk from our Millers Brand; gently transitioning you from Summer into Autumn!

Over the past few days our wonderful team of regional managers from our Millers brand, have come together for a conference to introduce the trans-seasonal range to the team and provide an update on the next chapter of Millers. 

The conference was upbeat and energetic with our Team Members discussing how to provide our Millers customers with the best shopping experience! 

In the picture below are three of our lovely Regional Managers; Jenny, Rebecca & Monique. In this blog they give us a behind the scenes insight to the conference and the fantastic new range.

Left to Right: Jenny, Rebecca and Monique

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Rebecca: The people! The team I work with are amazing and everyone pulls together to get results. The customers treat each other like family; it’s a wonderful part of the job. 

Monique: I get to work with amazing women every day and meet incredible customers. They are very special; they are loyal and like a family, it’s so great to have that. 

Jenny: The people; the team and the customers. They are so lovely, I’m so lucky. Many customers know the names of the store team members and they know theirs! That’s really special and makes our customers unique.  

What’s the best quality of our Millers customer?

Rebecca: All for one, one for all! I’ve said it already, but just coming back to the idea of the Miller’s family; there’s no them and us - we are one big family. It’s also great that they represent all different types of Australian women. 

Monique: They are genuine, real women. They are grandmas, mothers, they’re us! We can relate to each other really well.

Jenny: Our customers are down to earth, real women. 

What are your favourite trends this season?

Rebecca: Animal print!

Monique: Palazzo, soft pants – they’re so comfy!

Jenny: I love the animal print too!

What are you most looking forward to for Millers in 2015?

Rebecca: Taking the brand to the next level and giving our customers what they deserve! 

Monique: I agree with Bec, I’m so excited to be a part of a brand giving back to Australian women and giving them something that’s unique to them. 

Jenny: Miller’s is launching the first new concept store in New Zealand – it’s super exciting!!  

A sneak peak at the trans-seasonal evening wear!

What's your favourite Miller's accessory for the season? 

Rebecca: Statement necklaces – you can wear them with a whole range of outfits and mix and match them with your looks. 

Monique: Scarves – You can wear them so many different ways!  I experiment with tying them in my hair, around my head or as a neck scarf; they have such functionality and versatility!

Jenny: Jewellery – You can instantly dress up outfits and add a touch of glam.

What 'sneak peak's' can you reveal? 

Rebecca: There are loads of transitional pieces that mean you can mix the new range with last season’s pieces to create a versatile wardrobe.

Monique: I love the look of new dresses using fabric such as such as lace. We also have a great new ‘after 5’ range that has stepped up a level. 

Jenny: It’s very on trend, not over the top, so, anyone can wear it.

The conference also featured a fabulous and fun fashion show displaying new tran-seasonal outfits that will be hitting stores and online soon!

What’s your fondest memory of Millers so far?

Rebecca: This conference! It’s easily been the best I’ve ever been too. There iss a united team and everyone’s on the same page. Everyone’s very passionate and excited and that’s great to see.

Monique: There is one customer who brings baked goods every fortnight to her local store. Why? Because she feels like Millers was a part of her family and she loves them. It was so great to see such wonderful and strong relationships and staff who are passionate about their customers. 

Jenny: I love going into stores and seeing customer’s husbands come with them and they would know the staff’s names! It really shows how unique our customers are, and how strong the relationships are. 

What’s your top pick for the season?

Rebecca: The wrap scarf – It’s never out of fashion and can be easily added into your wardrobe. It can make an outfit – you can have a simple outfit and with a wrap it can dress it up a level and make it modern. I also love the new knits, they have such a luxurious feel. 

Monique: The crepe jacket; it’s fantastic value. It’s a statement piece on its own and ladies can dress it up or down. The colour range for the season is very on trend and won’t date quickly. 

Jenny: The new knitwear looks fab! It’s glamorous and practical. The long-line cardigan, 'coat-igan' and sweater have such soft fabrics. In NZ, it can get so cold and it’s wonderful that we can be warm and stylish.

Any last words?

Rebecca: We’re on a journey together with our customers and it’s about giving customers what they deserve.  

Monique: As a customer myself, I’m very excited for the next chapter of Millers. 

Jenny: I’m excited about the journey, every step we take is a step closer to giving back to our customer.

Team Millers

Meet the SFG Careers team!

Welcome to the new SFG Careers blog! We are super excited to launch our brand new blog plus be able to provide a picture that puts some faces to the names of the recruitment team here are Specialty Fashion Group. This financial year has seen us re-invent the recruitment, talent and careers function to improve process and most importantly candidate experience.

The aim of the blog is to provide an insight into life at SFG, what career pathways are available, who’s who and anything else you would like us to share with you!

In the picture above we have (left to right): Neveena Gill – focused on our Millers & Rivers brand and a lover of all things fashion; Lisa Donovan – our Recruitment Manager, passionate about showcasing what a great place to work SFG is (oh and her cat Harry Winston); Megan Conway – our enthusiastic and extremely hard working Recruitment Assistant who prides herself on providing candidates with an amazing first impression of SFG and finally myself, Lucy Hibbert, in the foreground – I look after our Autograph, Crossroads & Katies brands and am a wannabe ‘Social Media Manager’!

Together, we are committed to engaging with talented individuals who love what they do and the contribution they can make to a business. The SFG brands are about making people ‘look and feel great’ – wherever they may live, whatever their size, shape or age.

So connect with us!! You can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Google+ & Twitter. We would love to hear from you all! 

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