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• Matchbox Works: New boost for Tasmanian job seekers

An exciting and innovative new program is empowering Tasmanian job seekers struggling to find work in an increasingly competitive market. Based on the principles of a successful Swiss program, Matchbox Works is bringing cutting edge concepts to Tasmanians by challenging and revitalising the standard job application process. Job seekers today face many challenges, and employers make fast decisions about who will and will not make it to a job interview. So what is it that will catch a potential employer’s attention? This is precisely what Matchbox Works capitalises on.

Matchbox Works founder, Donovan John Szypura has worked for more than two decades in the creative industry. In Switzerland he successfully coached job seekers in developing their ‘Personal Brand’. This is an age old concept, of which the principles have been utilised by pop stars, actors, sports people and of course, politicians, in order to reach their target audience and increase their market value. Just take a moment to consider all of the personal advertising we are being flooded with in the wake of the upcoming elections. “We all know times are changing, fast, but your standard job application still looks the same as its twenty year old counterpart. Advertising and marketing principles help businesses and corporations to win the customers, why shouldn’t these same principles work for job seekers?” Donovan asks, “Well the answer is, they do!”.

Matchbox Works, is offering an intensive four-week program in which participants will learn to present their unique skills and personalities in a creative and authentic way.

A pilot program has now been launched in collaboration with Tasmanian job service provider ‘Workskills’. Workskills Employment Solutions is a not for profit community organisation
which has assisted thousands of people to access training and find ongoing, sustainable employment.

The pilot project will take place in the recently opened venue ‘MyPlaceinTown’ in Hobart, a creative meeting space which is attracting new and innovative businesses.

Founder Bill Aronson is predicting a transformation over the next decade which will see Tasmania become a powerhouse of creativity. Matchbox Works represents the beginning
of a new and exciting era, igniting the possibilities for job seekers in Tasmania.

What is Matchbox?

Matchbox is a job seeker program based on the principle that seeking employment is a personal advertising campaign.

What will I learn?

• The principles of marketing and advertising.

• Creative skills on how to develop a meaningful personal campaign.

• New media and presentation skills and many others …

What does it take to join Matchbox?

• A bucket full of motivation.

• Basic computer skills.

• An up-to-date resume.

How can I join Matchbox ?

Get in touch with Workskills in Hobart, Tasmania or contact us via email: [email protected]

More information:

Matchbox Works

www.matchbox-works.com

Workskills

www.workskills.org.au

Companies win work through advertising and marketing. Now it’s your turn.

Matchbox four-week-program

Team

Team building (approx. 12 participants)

Resource persons (Coaches & Experts)

Modern Workstation

Apple computers

Printer/scanner

Photo cameras

Smartboard

Skills

Marketing and advertising principles

Self presentation

Creative layout skills

Photography

Social media

Web design

Job interview training

Software Skills

Layout software: Scribus

Image editing software: Gimp

Website development: Wix

Personal Advertising Campaign

Print campaign

Online campaign

Location

Matchbox Works

My Place In Town www.myplaceintown.net

121 Bathurst St, Hobart, TAS 7000

Date and Time

The Matchbox four-week-program takes place on a daily basis (Monday–Friday) between 9–12 in the morning and 1–4 in the afternoon
17 February 2014 – 14 March 2014

Download all the details:
Media_Release_Matchbox.pdf

• ABC: The Youth Unemployment Train Wreck

A national welfare group has declared Tasmania’s youth unemployment is at the levels of some of the “train wreck” economies in Europe.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence says Tasmania has the worst levels in a country which has a national youth unemployment average of 12.2 per cent.

It says more than 17 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds are unemployed in Tasmania.

In 2008 the figure was a 10 per cent.

In the west and north-west it is even higher, with 21 per cent of young people out of work, the highest level of any region in Australia.

The organisation’s Tony Nicholson says the figures are a disaster.

“These are verging on the levels of youth unemployment you see in some of the train wreck economies of Europe and in Australia, where we’ve had a pretty strong economy for a long time, this is just not acceptable,” he said.

“It is a national problem, but here in Tasmania it’s a particular problem having grown from 10 per cent five years ago to now 17.5 per cent.”

He is urging the community not to ignore the plight of Tasmania’s youth.

“The cost to our economy is very significant,” he said.

“If we continue to have escalating rates of youth unemployment higher than 20 per cent, it’s a disaster in terms of what the impact it has on those young people and their families.

“It’s going to be a disaster for our economy in terms of the escalating welfare bill.”

Read more here

ABC: Jobs and unemployment: What’s the real story in Tasmania?