Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I handle questions about salary?
A. At the interview with your Recruitment Consultant, you need to be honest about the salary you are on currently and the salary you are looking for. Your Consultant will guide and advise you if they think you are being unrealistic. If you are asked about your salary expectations during the interview with the client, simply state the range you would accept (as discussed with the Consultant) and leave the salary negotiations to your Consultant.
Q. Why didn't I get the job I really wanted?
A. There could be a number of reasons, ranging from the position being filled by an internal candidate, to the client choosing another candidate more suited to the requirements of the role. The important lesson here is that you learn from the experience – perhaps you need to develop more skills in a particular area or you need to work on your confidence levels. Ask your Consultant for feedback and use the experience to get better results next time.
Q. What are my privacy rights as a candidate?
A. We need your consent to collect your information (you'll sign a Collection Statement when you come in for an interview), we need your consent to disclose your information to our clients and we need your consent to contact your referees.
Q. How often should I telephone my recruitment consultant?
A. Everyone is very busy these days and Recruitment Consultants are probably busier than most! You obviously need to ring your Consultant if you have been asked to do so (after an interview, for example) and you need to keep your Consultant informed of any change to your circumstances. Some Consultants may prefer to be contacted via email, while some prefer regular weekly telephone calls. Work out a system that works for you and your Consultant!
Q. I currently live overseas. Can I apply for jobs on your website?
A. Yes, provided you are legally entitled to work in Australia. Visit the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs for further information. Think about the practicalities of availability for interviews and start dates.
Q. I have seen 5 roles on your job board that I am interested in. Do I have to send in 5 separate applications?
A. We have known candidates who routinely apply for all the roles we have advertised at any one time. Considering these roles will range from entry-level to senior executives, the impression that is created by this 'spam' approach is not a very good one. If there are genuinely a number of roles you are interested in and which you feel you are qualified for, remember that our Consultants ideally want a well-written, carefully tailored covering letter to accompany your resume. Discuss your career aspirations in detail with the Consultant.
Q. Are the jobs advertised on your website real or are they just there to build your candidate database?
A. All the roles advertised on our website are real roles. Barber & Bunton are members of the Recruitment & Consulting Services Association (RCSA) and the RCSA Code for Professional Practice specifies core principles, which outline obligations for its members, including adhering to principles of truth in advertising and only advertising roles for which we have permission to recruit. We value our reputation as an ethical company to the point where we include ethics as a Key Performance Indicator for our staff.
Q. You don't have closing dates on your roles. What does this mean?
A. We don't specify closing dates because we keep a role open until the client has made a decision. This allows candidates the longest possible opportunity to apply. Some roles are filled very quickly and may only need to be advertised for one or two days, while other more specialised roles may take a few weeks to fill – remember, the early bird catches the worm!
Please feel free to contact us if you would like us to assist you with your next career move in financial services.
