Careers Education & Placement Centre

1. Careers Education & Placement Centre Written Application for Teaching Jobs Date : 15 February,2000 (Tuesday) Time : 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. Venue : P2, CYM Physics Bldg

2. Careers Education & Placement Centre Louisa Li Director Email: louisali@hkusua.hku.hk Homepage: http://www.hku.hk/cepc

3. Slides from this presentation • lecture notes are available at the CEPC Enquiry Desk for photocopying • lecture notes are available at the CEPC homepage:<http://www.hku.hk/cepc> • Students  • Services for students  • Careers Education Courses  • Lecture Notes 

4. How long do they spend on each application? For most of the companies, less than one minute per application.

5. Application Letter I. follow the ‘4S Rule’ - Short - simple - succinct - specific II. include ‘competency statements’ - should say what the candidate can DO - should make it clear what results they have achieved - should related to the employer’s needs and organised so as to show how the candidate’s qualifications can help to meet them

6. Format for Cover Letter Your Address Date The person’s name Job tile Employer name Address Dear (Mr/Mrs/Ms Surname), Ref: (Position) Introduction - Explain why you are writing Middle paragraph/s - Match your qualification, experiences, and achievements with the primary tasks of the appointee. Make them interested in meeting you!

7. Format for Cover Letter … cont’d Penultimate paragraph - Say what you are attracted by this employer and occupation. Closing paragraph - Leave the way open for further communication. Yours sincerely, Your name

8. Resume Format Name : Address : Contact Numbers : Summary : Career Objective : Education : Qualification : Extra-Curricular Activities: Position, Organisation, Period, Statement of responsibilities (use action words to show skills) Statement of achievement (showing results)

9. Resume Format …cont’d Work Experience : Position, Organisation, Period, Statement of responsibilities (use action words to show skills) Statement of achievement (showing results) Hobbies and Interest : Skills and other qualifications relevant to the employer and post : References : (Ideally three referees, not relatives, to comment on your ability, character, attitude to work, achievements) Expected Salary : (unless asked for)

10. Exercise II - Phrase your skills and achievements in action words and statements of result Example : XXX University Student Union Newspaper “XXX” • Co-editor for dance / techno music • Creative contributor. • Developed relations with record companies (e.g. arranging supply of sample CD’s to review). • Developed critical appreciation of different musical styles. • Kept up-to-date with trends in music and it’s culture.

11. Exercise II - Phrase your skills and achievements in action words and statements of result…cont’d • Learned to take constructive criticism. • Twelve monthly music reviews were published, received form all the 5 top record companies free supply of over 100 CDs to review, introduced 4 new styles of dance and techno music to the readers and wrote accompanying articles on the culture of ------. Your Task : Name an experience that is relevant to the needs of your targeted employer and phrase it in the style of this example.

16. Action Words

17. Action Words …cont’d

18. Action Words …cont’d

19. Action Words …cont’d

20. Action Words …cont’d

21. Planning Your Application for : Teacher, Sec Sch. (Arts/Humanities) Job Description Teaches one or more humanities subjects to classes of secondary school pupils aged 11-18. Typical Work Activities Planning, preparing and delivering lessons to classes. Devising and writing new materials. Researching new topics. Assessing and recording pupils’ progress, both orally and by setting and marking coursework and examinations. Participating in meetings, parents’ evenings, and extra-curricular activities. Writing reports for pupils, parents, and professionals. Undertaking pastoral and supervisory duties.

22. Selectors will be looking for evidence of your competence in the key skills : • memory • oral communication • persuading • directing • questioning • listening • perceiving

23. Planning Your Application for :Teacher, Secondary Sch. (Art) Selectors will be looking for evidence of your competence in the key skills : - spatial sense - creativity - oral communication - persuading - directing - questioning - listening - perceiving

24. Planning Your Application for :Teacher, Secondary Sch. (Science) Selectors will be looking for evidence of your competence in the key skills : - numeracy - memory - oral communication - persuading - directing - questioning - listening - perceiving

25. Planning Your Application for :Teacher, English as Second Language Verbal Comprehension Understanding complex information, facts, ideas or instructions which are expressed in written English. As all HE courses involve reading complicated text books you will have used this skill extensively, so many selectors will take your competence for granted. Selectors who are particularly concerned about it may use verbal reasoning aptitude tests. Your Careers Service will probably be able to arrange for you to try one of these or you could get a copy of the book “Know Your Own IQ”.

26. Planning Your Application for :Teacher, English as Second Language Verbal Comprehension(cont’d) In your studies : - understanding instruction or software manuals - making précis of technical reports or novels - background reading in preparation for essays Outside your studies : - reading quality newspapers and periodicals - a job that involved complicated instructions Look for the sections of the application form that you can use to detail this experience.

27. How to access Prospect(HE) on web-site? Please follow the procedure below: • HKU Library homepage http://www.hku.hk/lib  • Resources Library Electronic Resources  • type Prospect(HE)  • Winframe  • Start 

28. ANSWERS QUESTIONS

29. Optional materials

30. Covering Letter Why are you interested in the school and the occupation? Research!! • recruitment talk • career booklet • company file/newspaper cutting file • world wide web (e.g. South China Morning Post Archive) • alumni contact/friends • CEPC homepage

31. Exercise I - Match your qualification, experiences and achievements against the primary tasks of the appointee

34. The DOs • write the resume yourself • make it error free • make it look good • stress your accomplishments • be brief and specific • be honest • keep it lively - use action words (e.g. organised, participated, handled..etc) • address to the right person

35. The DON’Ts • Incomplete Information • Poor layout • Too fancy/complicated • Incorrect dates (e.g. date of birth, year of graduation)

36. Other Resources • The Resume Writing Workbook • Write for the job • Getting the job you really want • Write, giving full details (video) • The Miracel Resume (video) • Language Centre • More ....... Careers Library, 3/F, Meng Wah Complex