EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS HOW TO MAKE SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS

WHY YOU NEED EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS Whatever plans you have for the future – apprenticeship, employment with training, Post 16 qualifications, college or university course – you will need to know how to make an effective application. PREPARING A CV WRITING A LETTER OF APPLICATION COMPLETING AN APPLICATION FORM

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR APPLICATION These days all organisations expect you to have, not only good qualifications, but a range of SKILLS (things you can do). Use evidence of the relevant employment skills that you have developed (both in and out of school) to demonstrate that you will be an effective employee or student.

EMPLOYMENT-RELATED SKILLS Working effectively with other people Being organised and working independently Thinking creatively to solve problems Communicating well – in writing, verbally and using ICT Presentation skills

Use your ‘HOW TO MAKE SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS’ booklet for help with… Writing a letter of application Building a good quality CV Filling in an application form correctly

PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS…

BEFORE AN INTERVIEW Find out about the organisation – its history, what it does, how big it is, etc… Check where you have to go for your interview – find it on a map, work out how long it will take to get there and how you will travel Decide how you will dress for the interview – employers will expect you to take the interview seriously and dress smartly to show you are keen Think about why you want the job – read your copy of the application form Think about what skills you can bring to the job – make sure you can prove that you have these skills and what evidence you have to demonstrate any relevant skills Try to guess what questions the interviewers are likely to ask and think of some good answers Try practising your interview technique and get some feedback When you are given an opportunity to ask your own questions, what will you say? It’s a good idea to have some ideas in advance

AT THE INTERVIEW Try to make a good first impression – smile, appear confident and mature Answer all the questions as fully as you can – provide evidence to support what you say (but don’t waffle!) Never answer questions with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ Show your enthusiasm throughout the interview Be positive about yourself and your abilities Make good eye contact with the interviewers Think about your body language as well as what you say Remember your questions for them – prospects for career progression and further training are always good things to ask about