Job Hunting Strategies, Applications and Interview Skills Aston University Careers and Employability Centre 2010

Before you begin…

Skills checklist Team skills: team work. leadership, interpersonal, cultural and customer awareness, communication Self Skills: self awareness, self promotion, networking, self development, initiative, proactive General skills: Problem solving, flexibility, numeracy, commercial awareness, commitment Specialist skills: IT, technical, languages, company specific Where have you used these skills? Study? Work? Social? REFLECT & RECORD

Where to start? What sector, employer, job? Local, National, International? Adverts Applications Interviews Assessment Centres Job Offers The Graduate Recruitment Cycle

I know the sector… Knowing about the sector you want is a great start Now you have to start looking at the types of job in this sector Think what you actually know about this sector Research What skills do you have/developing that fit with this sector?

Top Tips Don’t take a scattergun approach – target the jobs you really want- one well written application is worth a 100 rushed ones If there is a professional body related to your discipline, join it and become active to network with professionals Don’t just rely on advertised vacancies apply speculatively Taken from Prospects ‘top tips’ 2009

I know the employer… Here we mean the type of Employer as well as certain firms so…Do you want to work a big multi-national firm? Small to Medium Employer? An ethical employer? A firm with a range of roles – helping you to develop professionally?

Top Tips Make sure your CV and covering letter are professional – check you are using language appropriate for a business letter Do your research into the industry so you know who is recruiting and for what Identify your unique selling points and market yourself effectively to employers

I know the job What it was that attracted you to this job? What is your motivation? What do you know about the role? What skills do you need? Which employers are recruiting for this role?

Top Tips Research the role and yourself Make your enthusiasm for the job come across in your application form and at your interview. Demonstrate your motivation and interest in the role Always tailor your application to the job role

Know what you want? Then you can start! Know about the placement recruitment cycle Where are vacancies advertised? Fairs Regional initiatives

If I am not sure what can I do? Look at Prospects Planner What you would like from a job? What don’t you want? Research

I know what I want but it has to be in the West Midlands! Download ‘Working in the West Midlands’ leaflet? ‘Working in the West Midlands Fair’

Websites Careers Servicewww.aston.ac.uk/careerswww.aston.ac.uk/careers Times Top TargetJobs Prospects Gradjobs

Contacts and the art of networking Lecturers Friends & Relatives Alumni Networking Social networking? Meeting Employers at Fairs?

Why do employers use application forms? Demonstrate Selection Equal

How do Employers select? Look at job needs? Create job specification? Advertise role in variety of ways

What an employer wants We are looking for candidates who will: - deliver results, learn and improve, make sound decisions, think imaginatively, use interpersonal skills, communicate clearly/persuasively”

Approaching application forms

Tough questions - examples When have you worked as part of a team? What issues have you faced?

Why is the employer asking this question? What are they looking for? Evidence of skills: Team working Interpersonal Negioation Influencing Analysis Judgement Self awareness Team players are essential. Give them an indication of your role in the team. Talk about what you did - not vague ‘we’. What have you learned and how it links to this job.

Tough Questions Why did you apply for this job?

Why is the employer asking this question? What are they looking for? Evidence of Skills: Motivation Commitment Self awareness Analysis Here they are looking for your motivation. What do you know about the job? The sector? Show your enthusiasm and your knowledge

Tough Questions Tell us about a challenging situation you have faced. How did you deal with this and what did you learn?

Why is the employer asking this question? What are they looking for? Evidence of Skills Analysis Time management Planning and organisation Communication (listening) Questioning Influencing Adaptability Judgement How did you cope? What did you learn? Demonstrate how you coped under stress - your strength of character and how you reflected on experience

Tell me why…. Why have you applied for this job? What made you want to work for this company? What you know about this company?

Employer’s tip “We are interested in what you have done but are more interested in what you have achieved and learned from the experience”

Motivation - WHY THEM? Accenture What we don’t want is a standard answer. We know when a candidate is quoting our website or marketing material. We’d like people to show that they have researched the company and culture, know about our competitors, our business and recent deals”.

Three strikes and you are out! We mark each competency – based question out of five. To progress candidates must score at least three in all questions. Three mistakes: spelling; grammar or inconsistencies and the answer is automatically given a two.

Shorter sentences If you have any questions, please ring. If there are any points on which you require explanation or further particulars we shall be glad to furnish such additional details as may be required by telephone. Before... After…

How to answer competency questions ContextResultAction

Employers will be looking for…. 1 Skills & Core Competencies 2 Experience 3 Qualifications 4 Attitude/motivation

Bad example - team work outcome

Good example – leadership outcome

What type of question? Open – “tell me about yourself? Closed – “how often do you meet?” Probing – “how and when would you go about doing that?” Hypothetical – “if you were able to change the world what would you do?” Inappropriate – are you married?” or “ When do you plan to have children?”

Preparation Skills Areas for development Experiences Strengths/weaknesses Behaviour/attitude YOU Job/company research Skills and experience required? Contacts THEM

During the interview Offer evidence of previous behaviour Body language Can notes be used? What to ask? Don’t talk money Do talk training

Tips for interviews Know your application form/CV What would you ask? Know where you are going Late - what to do? Smile when you arrive

Additional resources DVDs ‘Why ask me that?’ AGCAS ‘At the assessment centre’ AGCAS Websites Books? Join the careers loan library

Useful events Effective CVs applications workshop Working in the West Midlands workshop Graduate Recruitment Fair in June Check the careers website for forthcoming employer events on campus: