What Employers Want Kristian Rumble – Graduate Employment Manager

1. What Employers WantKristian Rumble – Graduate Employment Manager

2. Work • Structured schedule • Frequent & unexpected changes • Employer chooses your time & direction • Employer expects 100% all day every day • Infrequent feedback • Professional dress code • Professional environment • University • Flexible schedule • Few significant changes • You decide your time, hobbies, etc • You choose your performance levels • Continuous feedback • Flexible dress code • Informal environment

3. Why do companies employ graduates? • Managers of the future who run their own operations & make crucial business decisions unsupervised • People looking for a career not just a job; people with a long term view • Professional image to maintain

4. The core competencies that are most popular with graduate recruiters include: • Communication • Teamwork • Leadership • Initiative • Problem Solving • Flexibility/adaptability • Self Awareness • Commitment • Interpersonal skills • Numeracy • IT Knowledge • Commercial Awareness

5. What does a competency look like? • Sales/Persuasion – ability to promote a product or idea effectively and be able to influence peoples opinions, by utilising good listening skills and excellent communication. • Communication – ability to speak in a concise, articulate manner with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. • Leadership – to be able to command respect, lead by example and motivate, support and manage employees

6. What does a competency look like? • Work Ethic/Results Driven – to be committed and dedicated to obtaining the best results, remaining target driven and devoted to fulfilling the companies values. • Customer Service – the ability to communicate professionally with all customers, build rapport and guarantee all customers are entirely satisfied. • Flexibility – to be able to adapt to changing circumstances and environments with ease and take on board new ideas and concepts

7. Commercial Awareness • The economy • Markets – local and global • Financial systems • Government policies • Industry insights and market intelligence • Vocabulary of a specific industry

8. Relating your skills • Focus on presenting evidence from your: • Academic achievements • Work Experience • Voluntary work • Involvement in clubs or societies • Part time work

9. Online Applications – what employer want... • Correct spelling and grammar • Answers that portray a positive attitude • Detailed answers • Relevant work experience • Evidence of core competencies • That you have sold yourself at every opportunity

10. Avoid the following... • Taking an excessive amount of time to complete • Unrealistic salary and expected working hours • Not reading over your application before submitting • Negative comments about previous employers • Unnecessary information • Poor spelling/grammar/vocabulary

11. Generic Statements • “I’m an excellent team player” • “A dynamic worker” • “Great communicator” • “Sound technical ability”

12. The Recruitment Process - Statistics

13. Telephone Interviews – what employers look for • Clear communication • Enthusiastic tone • Evidence that you have done your research • Detailed answers • Relevant examples - portray your “core competencies” throughout the screen • Questions at the end

14. Avoid... • Avoid letting the phone ring too long • Answer in a professional manner • Avoid someone else answering the phone • Avoid inappropriate background noise • Keep a clear track of applications & their source • Don’t ask “How did I do” at the end

15. Employers want to know about your behaviour • The interviewing method in which candidates are asked to give specific examples of their past performance or behaviour in job related areas. • Past performance predicts future behaviour • Interviewers seek specific examples of actual tasks or situations.

16. Measuring your behaviour • “Give me a specific example of a time when you…” • "Tell me about a time when you …” • "Describe a time when you … “

17. Face to face interviews Employers want to see the following: • Arrive early • Confidence • Correct dress • Know who you are meeting with • Have lots relevant of examples • Someone that can SELL themselves

18. Avoid... • Calling for directions 5 minutes before your interview • Being Scruffy • Bringing your parents • Slouching in your chair • Using slang/swearing • Having no questions to ask

19. Assessment Days – employers look for: • Volunteer at every opportunity • Listening skills • Team players • Candidates who are positive and supportive • Confidence • Positive attitude • Creative thinking