Make Work Experience Work for You!

1. Make Work Experience Work for You! May 2011

2. CAREERS DAY PART OF NATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT WEEK! MONDAY 16TH MAY

3. Services for Students • QUT CareerHub • Casual Jobs • Graduate/postgraduate jobs • Jobs whilst studying • Vacation Jobs • Events and Workshops • On-Campus Employer • Presentations • Resource Guides and Publications • Work Experience Insurance • Workshops and Workbooks • Access to Going Global • Career Development Programs • on Blackboard • Careers Fairs • Careers Fair – March 28 • Engineering Careers Fair • Career Mentor Scheme • Career Counselling • Specialising in: • Undergraduate • Postgraduate • International • Graduate Outcomes • Job Seeking Resources • Resume Feedback • Response in 5 working days • Email careers@qut.edu.au

4. Finding us via the QUT homepage:Search for “careers”

5. Finding us via QUT Virtual:

6. www.careers.qut.edu.au

7. Register for your FREE online profile on the QUT CareerHub link at www.careers.qut.edu.au Welcome FAQs Daily job listings Preparing to apply for graduate jobs? Useful weblinks Need some casual work while studying? Career development guides Want to find work experience? Upcoming events Career development strategies New jobsareadded dailyby employers who want to employ QUT students…that meansYOU! Employment preparation information sheets

8. Going Global Accessing Going Global

9. @ QUT Careers QUT Careers and Employment

10. Workshops • Resume Writing • Addressing Selection Criteria • Interview Skills • Get Ready for the Careers Fair • Accessing the Workforce • Careering Through Uni – Career Development Strategies • Evening Workshops • International Student Program – workshop series For dates and locations see:

11. Volunteer Career Assistant@ QUT Careers & Employment • We are looking for enthusiastic students who can share 3-4 hrs/week and who want to gain experience in: • Working in an office environment • Customer service • Marketing & event coordination • Administration & HR As well as gaining valuable experience, you will receive a personal reference from the Manager Careers & Employment and special access to resources and Careers Counsellors APPLY NOW! Go to the QUT CareerHub link at www.careers.qut.edu.au

12. Contact Careers and Employment PHONE Gardens Point: 07 3138 2649 Kelvin Grove: 07 3138 3488 Caboolture 07 5316 7400 LOCATION Gardens Point Campus: Level 2, X Block Reception: Room X222 Kelvin Grove Campus: Level 4, C Block (Above the Refectory) Caboolture Campus: Student Centre - J Block EMAIL careers@qut.edu.au WEBSITE www.careers.qut.edu.au

13. Overview • Identifying opportunities • Applications – cover letters and resumes • Interview tips • Managing and thriving on placement • Career Development Modules • Questions

14. Decision Making Making decisions • Collect all the info • Weigh up alternatives • Check out the consequences • Prioritise highest value • Make the decision • Review it after some time

15. Implementation Taking action • Information vs application • Prepare a resume • Understand what you offer • Make contact

16. How do people access jobs? • They can respond to advertisements on the Careers and Employment website, etc. • They can try to find jobs through friends • They can hope that someone finds them • They can apply through a recruitment agency.

17. Advertised Jobs • Go to the Careers and Employment website and get application details • Go to CareerOne, etc and follow directions • Look in newspapers, Faculty information and apply Easy!

18. However: A recent survey found that candidates found their positions by a number of means and had the following success rates: • Recruitment agency 2% • Newspaper 5% • On line (such as seek.com) 15% The remaining 78%? Through contacts, networking and approaching companies directly. Most jobs aren’t advertised. This is the hidden job market.

19. Why are positions "Hidden"? • Time taken in the advertising process – QUT about 12 weeks! • Expense of advertising • May have part time or short term job only (think IBM and 20 hours a week) -it would not be worth the time to advertise • May have not thought of what you are offering – languages and customer service + skills from degree + flexibility?? • May have employee resign tomorrow and need someone immediately.

20. Decide what you have to sell! • Previous work skills such as reception duties, customer service, team work • Expertise from a previous degree • Passion • Voluntary work

21. Process for Accessing the Market • Research the company you want to work for. (Web site) Graduate Outcomes?? • What does it do? • Match yourself to its profile. • Offer what it wants through passionate letter/email and resume.

22. Let’s discover the Cover...! • It is a vital link between your resume and the organisation and provides a personal perspective on why you would be a good candidate for the position. • Highlights key skills and matches them to the employer’s requirements. Indicates what attracts you to the role and the organisation. • Encourages the employer to read your resume. • Equally as important as your resume.

23. Customise the Cover! • Create a new cover letter for each position • Align your cover letter with the organisation Contents of the Cover.. • Opening paragraph - Introduction • Paragraph 2 Why are you applying? • Paragraph 3 Why you? • Paragraph 4 Highlight your skills • Closing paragraph See you soon!

24. Resumes! Your skills, knowledge, education and experiences – in only 3 pages! • Evolving document and therefore needs to be updated • Research the organisation via website and media releases – will you fit in? • Tailor your resume for the employer, highlighting your skills and abilities

25. So...how do you make your resume stand out from the others? • Research the employer/company – what skills and attributes are they looking for? • What does their website look like? • Resume: Presentation... Package... Colour... Document format... Balance information and creativity. Target your resume!

26. Who do you send it to? • HR Manager? • Head of area you wish to work for? • Friend/acquaintance? How do you find such addresses? • Website • Phone book? • Ask them?

27. Work Placement Interviews

28. Work placement interview tips • Be prepared • Know where to go and arrive early • Dress appropriately • Take relevant paperwork • Manage your nerves • Be polite, respectful and smile!

29. What do I do DURING the Interview? Make a Good First Impression • First impressions are hard to change • Take between 30 seconds & 2 minutes to form • Need to appear to be confident & enthusiastic • Be in control in the first 2 minutes • Practice possible entry routines

30. Arrive early Make & keep eye contactwhen speaking Shake hands firmly Lay your paperwork out on the table in front of you Keen/relaxed posture Don’t fidget (distraction) Slow deep breaths Listen – Think - Speak Strategies to be in Control

31. Non-verbal Messages

32. What Questions will I be Asked? • General • Behavioural

33. General Questions (traditional or technical) • What did you do on the weekend? • What aspects of university have you found interesting? • Tell me about your weaknesses? • What is your least favourite subject? • What practical experience do you have? • Why do you want to work for us?

34. Behavioural Questions • Describe the biggest challengeyou faced at uni and how you overcame it? • Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-workeror customer • Give me an example of a challenging group you have had to gain co-operationfrom • Tell me a time when you failed and the lesson you learned from this experience

35. The Key to a Perfect Answer Situation (context) Task(s) Actions required Result Learning Use recent examples from study, work, social, sport…. Stick to 1-3mins response. Then ask if they want more information.

36. Example: 'Can you tell me about a time when you had to organise a major event?' • Situation'Yes - earlier this year I had to organise the 2010 QUT Careers Fair. • Task 'To do this, I was required to market and advertise the Fair to both students and employers. I also had to organise venue hire, catering and booth construction, and exhibition equipment. • Action 'To market the Fair to students, we had a postcard designed and mailed out to our target audience. We also used banners, flyers and posters to advertise. In the week leading up to the Fair, we used a video wall for the first time..... • Results 'We had 65 employers at the fair, which was the largest number of employers to attend to date. And there were over 2500 students, which was also a record number.'

37. What will they ask me about? • Problem solving (conflict management, challenges) • Leadership (initiative, responsibility) • Team work (relationships, roles) • Communication (oral, written, interpersonal) • Time management (deadlines, multi-tasking)

38. Example General (Personal) Questions “Tell me about yourself” “What has been one of your greatest achievements?” http://lms-stream2.qut.edu.au/media/CARDEV_Interviews/_2921994_1/labsStream_Market_your_skills_and__ach_384K_Blackboard.wmv Source: QUT Careers & Employment Career Development Modules

39. Practise, practise, practise... Record yourself Practise in front of the mirror With friends!

40. Choose one question from the list that you most dislike – interview a neighbour with your chosen question – give feedback! • Describe the biggest challenge you faced at uni and how you overcame it? • Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult co-worker or customer • Give me an example of a challenging group you have had to gain co-operation from • What did you do on the weekend? • What aspects of university have you found interesting? • What is your least favourite subject? • What practical experience do you have? • Why do you want to work for us?

41. Feedback • What did the person being interviewed do well? • What could they improve? Think about: • Content • Body language (eye contact, posture etc.)

42. For further interview skills assistance • QUT Careers & Employment has an information sheet on interview skills • You can get a hard copy at the Career Resource Centres on each campus or download one from the website at the following link: http://www.careers.qut.edu.au/student/resource/InterviewSkills.pdf

43. Interview Coaching WHAT? • A ½ hr mock interview with a Career Counsellor WHEN? • Whenever you book! WHERE? • Careers & Employment (Level 4 C Block) Ph: 3138 3488

44. Thriving in the workplace

45. 5 key stages Anticipation Disillusionment Confrontation Competence Culmination Developmental Stage Model Swietzer & King (2004) Thriving in the workplace

46. Anticipation: Your concerns about the workplace • This can be relieved by preparation • Know what is to be expected from you – workplace and uni • Understand what you can expect from the workplace – learning agreement/induction • Familiarise yourself with the company • Create (and maintain!) a good first impression ...

47. 1st impressions – creating and maintaining • First impressions are formed immediately and are then very difficult to change. • It takes between 30 seconds and 2 minutes to form a first impression, so how you perform at interview and begin your first day at your workplace is very important.

48. 1st impressions – creating and maintaining • Dress to impress - fit with the environment. • Be positive and upbeat and...  

49. Maintaining that positive 1st impression • Be careful with mobile phone use… • Make sure you understand the rules surrounding e-mail etiquette. Also internet/social networking sites etc • Show respect and flexibility and offer to help others. • Don’t assume something is acceptable practice. Establish the rules first.

50. Disillusionment: The workplace isn’t what you expected? • Know how uni and the workplace differ, e.g., amount of direction, feedback, control over your time • This can be relieved by support networks • Identify who can support you in your transition, e.g., Academics, family, mentors, roommates, friends and • Identify the kind of support each can offer, e.g., provide advice, praise current efforts, affirm your experience