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Ready to compete...where are the jobs, is my CV and interview technique OK?. Pauline Glasgow, Careers adviser p.glasgow@qub.ac.uk. Aims. Raise awareness of the job market and opportunities available to you when you graduate Encourage you to make successful applications. Objectives.
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Ready to compete...where are the jobs, is my CV and interview technique OK? Pauline Glasgow, Careers adviser p.glasgow@qub.ac.uk
Aims • Raise awareness of the job market and opportunities available to you when you graduate • Encourage you to make successful applications
Objectives • Increase knowledge of the labour market • Identify your selling points • Promote yourself effectively on your CV and at interview
SWOT Analysis • Small groups • Write down on flip chart paper • Report back • www.prospects.ac.uk • www.gradireland.com • Surveys/reports/useful websites for English
UK Graduate Careers Survey Apprx 18,000 students, including 599 from QUB 25% of students planning to do postgraduate study 13% planning taking time out to travel (down on last year) 40% expecting to join labour market – this is an increase The media is still the most popular career area Accountancy is the 8th most popular choice More students are making earlier applications – ‘huge shift’ Queens students make, on average, 5 applications. UK average, is 6.8 Salary expectations - £22,600
Appropriate Resources Gti Target Careers www,targetjobs.co.uk Private sector (own websites or directories) www.yell.com ROI Graduate Careers Service www.gradireland.com UK Careers www.agencycentral.co.uk QUB Careers Service www.qub.ac.uk/careers Your Careers Service! UK Graduate Careers Service www.prospects.ac.uk Inside Careers www.insidecareers.co.uk Public sector (own websites or directories) www.getalife.org.uk www.jobs.ac.uk ROI Careers www.exp.ie www.jobs-ireland.com Europe www.careerseurope.co.uk/ NI Careers www.careersserviceni.com www.jobsni.com Voluntary Sector (own websites or directories) www.getalife.org.uk Website Publications -Career Planning guides -Helpsheet series Advisers • Website • Publications • Employer Directories • Sector Guides Website Publications Websites Websites
How to find employers/vacancies in NI • Graduate Opportunities Section of the Careers website • Employer websites eg NI Civil Service www.nicsrecruitment.gov.uk, Queen’s/UU, NHS www.hpssjobs.com, individual companies etc • Yell www.yell.co.uk (useful for identifying companies in different occupational areas/locations etc) • JobCentre On-line www.jobcentreonline.com • Regional/local/national newspapers eg Belfast Telegraph, Irish News etc • Recruitment agencies
Competencies & skills • Times Top 100/Directories/sample jobs • Identify criteria ‘any discipline’ recruiters want • How do you match? • In pairs, tell your partner one thing you are good at/do well
CVs • Sample CVs • Read from an employer’s perspective • Discuss – what you liked, what could be improved
Degree Education • Basic details ie dates, name of university, course studied, degree result expected/obtained • Achievements eg projects, scholarships/prizes awarded, work placements • Notable aspects eg features/modules you enjoyed etc • Important to say something about what you gained from your degree (think transferability)
Work Experience • Basic details ie dates, name of employer, job title • Brief overview of duties/what you did • Achievements ie skills developed, insights gained, extensions to original term, notable outcomes etc • Focus on what you gained rather than what you did (again, think transferability)
Achievements and Interests • Your chance to include other relevant details not included in degree/education and work experience eg -Extra-curricular activities at University -Voluntary work -Sporting activities -Other skills eg IT, languages -Achievements outside degree/work experience -Hobbies/pastimes • Can be a key factor in demonstrating your motivation and ‘get up and go’ factor
Activities and interests • Selectors are more interested in your level of involvement than in what you are involved in. • Mention any position of responsibility. • Stress social skills e.g. teamwork, motivating others etc. • Describe any initiative you developed.
Don’t use weak words such as “did” or “worked”; change them to “achieved” or “implemented”. • Include active verbs when describing your activities e.g. achieved, arranged, contributed, established, implemented, initiated, negotiated, organised. • Put the most powerful words at the left-hand side of the page: that is were the scanning eye travels first. Not “While I was at Brown and Co. I developed a new database system”, but “Developed a new database system while at Brown and Co”.
Interviews • If you get to the interview stage you basically meet the requirements for the job • The purpose of the interview is to give the employer a chance to assess your suitability for the role and for you to demonstrate your abilities and personality • The interview should be a two-way process • Interviews can take different forms eg face-to-face, panel, by telephone etc • Can also be ‘stand alone’ or form part of an assessment centre
Tell me about yourself Means: Can you present yourself as the best candidate for the job? Approach: • Read the job description • What are the key competencies required? • Prepare a list of your main selling points • Prioritise your list • Start with your best selling point • Introduce the remaining points throughout the interview
Why should we employ you? Means: Can you add value to the company? Approach: • Refer to the job description and your list of selling points. • Briefly summarise how your education, experience and skills match the job. • If given time, you may introduce additional selling points
Why did you apply for this job? Means: How motivated are you? Approach: • Do your homework. • Make sure they know you’ve done it. • List the attractions of the job • Interesting work • Aligns with your previous experience • Real responsibility • Reputation of the company etc. • State your desire to work for a company offering these incentives.
Can you give me an example of When you’ve worked as part of a team? Means: Can you work effectively with other people? Approach: • Thinks about teams you belong to. • How do you contribute to their effectiveness? • Provide an example of you supporting others in a team effort.
Can you give an example of when you’ve had to work under pressure? Means: Can you prioritise your work and do you have a work ethic? Approach: • Thinks about a time when you had deadlines to meet. • How did you prioritise your use of time? • Describe the outcome and how you maximised your effectiveness.
What do you do in your spare time? Means: Are you a well-rounded person and do your interests demonstrate other abilities? Approach: • Emphasise involvement and achievement. • Try to match the skills you have developed with those required by the job. • Be enthusiastic. • Keep it brief.
What are your strengths and weakness? Means: Are you self-aware and do you have a plan for your own development? Approach: • Link your strengths to the job. • Describe weaknesses in terms of personal development – how you have become stronger. • Mention briefly how you hope to develop further.
Scenario problem solving Means: Can you think on your feet and see the implications of your decisions? Approach: • Make sure you understand the problem • Ask for time to think about it. • Try to consider a number of alternative solutions
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? Means: Have you a career objective that is achievable with this company? Approach: • Discuss your personal goals in terms of the job e.g. • Acquiring experience and responsibility • Developing your management skills • Continuous professional development – do not make this a condition!
Have you any questions? Means: They are providing you with an opportunity to clarify any issues that are important to you. Approach: • You are still being assessed so ask about eg: • training and development • performance assessment and prospects for promotion
First Impressions A first impression is often based on the first 30-90 seconds: • Smile • Respond in an animated, enthusiastic way • Be confident and maintain good eye contact
Body language Research has shown that: • 55% is based on appearance • 38% is based on tone of voice • 7% what is actually said
Resources • People – Careers, lecturers, network contacts • Websites, as discussed • Events – Summer Recruitment Fair, 12th June • Information Room materials