Latest listings on Beef Central’s recruitment page, Jobs Central:

• Livestock team-member  (Jindalee feedlot)
• Grazing BMP coordinator (Burdekin Grazing BMP project)
• Export Sales Executive (Wellard Rural Exports)
• Livestock Manager (Elders Charlton feedlot)
• Livestock operations; farm and livestock assistant roles (Raff Angus)
• Feedlot operations manager (Southeast Qld position)

Click here to view all listings on Jobs Central. 

Many common interview questions reveal little about a job candidate.  Here are some questions managers shouldn’t ask and the alternatives:

Avoid:  “Where do you see yourself in five years?”  Hiring managers ask this question to probe a candidate’s career goals, but nobody really knows where they’ll be in five years, says interview coach Pamela Skillings, from Skillful Communications.

Ask instead:  “How would this position fit into your long-term career plan?”  This is likelier to get the candidate talking about their goals, and why the job would be a great next step.

Avoid: “What kind of people do you have trouble working with?”  No one answers this question honestly.  It also leads candidates to talk about “kinds of people” instead of their own interpersonal skills.

Ask instead:  “Tell me about a time you have conflict with someone at work.”  Real examples show more clearly how a candidate works with different personalities.

Avoid:  “Tell me more about your current position.”  This is likely to yield a regurgitation of resume bullet points. 

Ask instead:  “Walk me through a typical day in your current role.”  Day-to-day responsibilities can elicit telling details.

Avoid:  “Do you have kids?”  This is not only a weak question but an illegal one. 

Ask instead:  “Would you be able to work the hours required for this position.”  Focus on the candidate’s ability to do the job.

Unemployment rises to 5.4pc

The Australia Bureau of Statistics reported that Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 5.4 percent in December 2012.

November’s unemployment rate was 5.3pc.

The number of people employed decreased by 5500 to 11.539 million in December while the number of unemployed people increased by 16,600 to 656,400.

Numbers in full-time employment decreased by 13,800 to 8.11 million. Unemployment was off-set by the increase in part-time employment, up 8300 to 3.426m, as Australian businesses scaled back on expansion plans.

According to news reports, the unemployment rate rose in all States with the biggest jump in South Australia from 5.3pc to 5.8pc.

Queensland and Tasmania continue to face the highest unemployment levels at 6.2pc and 7.3pc, while the Northern Territory’s unemployment rate has decreased from 3.9pc to 3.8pc. the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported.