The inside story: how to get a job in front line support for young people experiencing homelessness

Ever wondered what hiring managers are looking for when they recruit for Australia’s most sought-after NFPs?

In this series, we interview the people who hire at the organisations where you want to work — and we’ll give you the inside knowledge you need to make your next job application amazing. 

This month we speak to Angela Gaylard, People and Culture Manager at Youth Projects – an independent, registered charity which provides front line support to young people and individuals experiencing disadvantage, unemployment, homelessness, alcohol and other drug issues.

(You can check out the roles Youth Projects is currently advertising here) 

Hi Angela, thanks for chatting with us! To kick us off, can you tell us a bit about what Youth Projects does?

We are an independent, registered charity providing front line support to young people and people experiencing homelessness to open pathways out of poverty and homelessness – breaking the cycle of disadvantage. Our focus is on client-centered care, respect and harm prevention so that people can have improved health, meaningful employment, lead longer lives, and feel a greater sense of belonging, safety, and security through a holistic model of care.

What are some of the things that might attract candidates to apply to Youth Projects?

Every day spent working with us, you will be making a difference. As a way of saying thanks to our crew, Youth Projects provides a vast range of employment conditions and benefits (over and above industry and legislative standards). These include salary packing up to $15,900, additional paid caregiver, mental health, paid domestic violence and study leave to name a few. We also offer flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities and free access to vaccinations.

So walk us through the recruitment process at Youth Projects

We recruit a little differently (probably because we are a little different). For every role, we recruit people that are change makers and have social justice in their blood. Shortlisted applicants will normally undergo a phone screening with the team leader or program manager, a formal interview and then an informal catch up with our CEO (yes, they have met with every single one of our employees during the recruitment process!)

What are the top things you look for when assessing a candidate application?

We want to know who they are – as a person – and why they want to change lives. It is that simple.   

What’s the most common mistake you see candidates make in their applications?

Not submitting cover letters or replicating their resume in a cover letter. We use the candidates resume to understand their skills and work history, and their cover letter helps us to understand their story. When a candidate replicates their resume in their cover letter or writes a generic letter, they are missing out on the chance to sell themselves on why they are our ideal candidate.

And if they make it to interview, who is a candidate most likely to meet on an interview panel at Youth Projects?

We’re a casual and flexible, yet professional and high energy workplace – and we conduct our interviews the same way. For many roles, our interviews are really just a chat.  All of our interviews are led by the team leader or program manager of the department, at the end of the day they are the ones that know the roles inside out. There will also be an Executive or People and Culture Manager on the panel to make sure that we dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s. 

What advice would you give candidates to improve their interview skills?

Make sure you know the organisation you are interviewing with, and why you want the role. Whether it is for an interview at Youth Projects (or any other organisation), you need to show that you know what you are getting into.  

Also, we feel your nerves. Take your time and breath (it is not a test!) and if you need a question repeated, just ask. Or if you muck up your response, just start again. We are all human, and we have all been in the candidate’s seat before.

Finally, what advice would you give to someone who wants to work at Youth Projects but perhaps doesn’t have the right qualifications or experience?

For some of our roles you obviously need a qualification or experience, no one wants to be seen by an outreach nurse that is not an actual nurse, but for many of our roles, a qualification is a bonus. Lived experience in all its forms provides a deep level of understanding that a piece of paper can never give. 

So, if you are comfortable sharing, please let us know. More than 80% of our workforce identify as someone with lived or living experience in the areas that we work in, so you are in good company.

Thanks Angela!