1. Effective on-line applications Careers Advisory Service www.imperial.ac.uk/careers

2. What the talk will cover The recruitment process Preparation Answering questions Opportunity to practice

3. The Recruitment Process Position needs to be filled What will job involve - job description What are the skills, knowledge and personal qualities needed to do it - person specification Application form/CV (sometimes Psychometric tests) First interview Second interview/assessment centre Appoint

4. Preparation Research the industry sector and type of workindustry sector type of work www.prospects.ac.uk > explore job sectors www.imperial.ac.uk/careers/ug/occupations www.imperial.ac.uk/careers/resources Be clear about the skills, competences and knowledge required for the work to which you are applying Research the organisation - why do you want to work there?organisation http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers/ug/research

5. Completing Application Forms Read the questions carefully and follow the instructions Don’t put empty boxes – use N/A if possible Pay attention to the sub-questions Tailor your responses to the employer Pay attention to word count limits Plan your answers, and use a variety of examples from different areas of your life – range and currency!

6. Competency based questions  Questions that ask you to describe your past performance in relation to a specific scenario  Used to judge how competent you will be in a job, employers need to see exactly how you have performed in a similar way in the past.  The competencies that employers look for vary but might focus on skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication and judgement. Examples  Describe your role in a team situation. How did you contribute to the effectiveness of the team and what was the outcome ?  Tell me about an occasion when you have had to analyse a problem? What did you do and what was the result?

7. Competency questions S - Scenario Briefly describe the situation where you demonstrated the competence which the question is asking you to demonstrate T - Task What was your specific task A - Action What did you do and how did you do it? R - Result What was the outcome? What were the reasons for your success & any learning points

8. For example …. Situation I was part of sales team responsible for … Task We had to find a way of informing customers about …. and we were all asked for our ideas on …. Action I questioned whether this would work and suggested we…. I then …. Result Customers noticed the …… as a result, they bought more …. and told us …..

9. Comments please ! From your personal, work or academic experience, please give an example of a challenge that you have set yourself and describe how you have gone about achieving it ? My academic career from secondary school onwards is something that I feel has been an ongoing challenge for me, which I have always worked hard at to meet. I have always aimed high and always worked to the best of my ability, something that I am particularly proud of. I am proud of my achievements academically and believe these to be the result of hard work, determination and play. I continue to set myself challenges in all areas of my academic work and I continue to aim high.

10. From your personal, work or academic experience, please give an example of a challenge that you have set yourself and describe how you have gone about achieving it? One of my ambitions in life has always been to see the Great Barrier Reef, so during my year out, after saving for six months, I travelled alone to Australia. After listening to reports from others, I decided the best way to see it was to do a scuba diving course on the reef. This was, to me, a clear challenge as I have always been a very weak swimmer. I therefore set myself the target of achieving my aim by my birthday, which gave me five months to improve my skills. I took every opportunity to swim, especially in the sea which was something I had never done. My strength, fitness and confidence all increased sufficiently to pass the minimum standards required before starting a course, and I qualified on the reef on my birthday.

11. Exercise: Describe your role in a team situation. How did you contribute to the effectiveness of the team and what was the outcome? Try answering this question in 150 words. You have 5 minutes to at least begin your answer. Very briefly set the scenario Describe your individual role What skills did you demonstrate? Consequences of your actions Interactions with others in your group i.e. leader or facilitator? What were the outcomes for the whole team?

12. Recent AGR survey (autumn 2008) identified - Skills that employers want Self-reliance skills People skills General skills Specialist skills

13. Skills that employers want Self-reliance skills self-awareness proactivity willingness to learn self-promotoin networking planning action People skills team working interpersonal skills oral communication leadership customer orientation foreign language General skills problem-solving flexibility business acumen IT/ computer literacy numeracy commitment Specialist skills Specific occupational skills Technical skills

14. Self-reliance skills Self-awareness  purposeful, focused, self-belief, realistic Proactivity  resourceful, drive, self-reliant Willingness to learn  inquisitive, motivated, enthusiastic Self-promotion  positive, persistent, ambitious Networking  initiator, relationship-builder, resourceful Planning action  decision-maker, planner, able to prioritise

15. People skills Team working -supportive, organised, co-ordinator, deliverer Interpersonal skills -listener, adviser, co-operative, assertive Oral communication - communicator, presenter, influencer Leadership -motivator, energetic, visionary Customer orientation -friendly, caring, diplomatic Foreign language - Specific language skills

16. General skills Problem-solving - practical, logical, results orientated Flexibility - versatile, willing, multi-skilled Business acumen - entrepreneurial, competitive, risk taker IT / computer literacy - Software packages, keyboard skills Numeracy -accurate, quick-thinker, methodical Commitment - Dedicated trustworthy, conscientious Specialist skills Specific occupational skills eg - Relevant knowledge - IT programming languages / operating systems - mathematical modelling skills - foreign language skills Technical skills eg - Specific engineering knowledge skills - laboratory skills / techniques

17. Personal Development Planning helps you Record and articulate when things go well Record and reflect even when things don’t go well and think about the different strategies you adopted By recording your experiences, what you learn from them and your achievements  You ensure that you have a mine of examples to draw on for applications  If you don’t do this, you may well forget all your best examples later To use iPlan on http://webct.imperial.ac.uk/http://webct.imperial.ac.uk/

18. What has been the hardest decision you have had to make? What factors did you take into consideration? o Clear analysis of the problem o Weighing up the pros & cons o Facts - budgets, deadlines, targets, time scales o Consequences & repercussions o Contingency plan o Innovative examples

19. Business awareness questions Might be about industry sector or the specific employer. Some research required to answer these questions e.g. company websites, trade journals, annual report “Please provide us with your understanding of the services offered by the firm, and, in particular, the work undertaken in your chosen line of service” “From a business perspective, if you were to join PWC, which organisation would be your ideal client? What services do you think that PWC would be providing to enhance the organisation’s continued business success? Please note that the organisation does not have to be a current client of PWC.”

20. Career Motivation What attracts you to the job for which you are applying? Self-reflection – opportunity to sell your self Good understanding of work area and company Contribution to the aims of the business Clear indication of why you want to work in this field and in this job “Research on the web site and knowledge of who we are goes a long way to convincing us.”

21. Please use this space to give us any extra information to support your application.

22. Resources Careers handouts, e.g. “Applications” AGCAS Videos, e.g. “Looking Good on Paper” and “Your Job’s On-line” http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers/resources Making effective applications www.prospects.ac.ukwww.prospects.ac.uk - official HE careers website for Occupational & Employer Information http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers/resources www.imperial.ac.uk/careers - www.imperial.ac.uk/careers - Making effective applications,, AGCAS Information Booklets, e.g. “Making Applications”. Further information