1. JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES Employability: Professional Career Start Strategies & Job Search Katrina Sardellis 25 November 2015

2. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN 2 Session objectives Students will gain an insight into: -Interview preparation -Techniques to enhance interview performance -Typical interview questions -Tips to create a positive impression post interview -Interview practice

3. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Communicating your story in person 3 Being asked to attend an interview generally means you have made it to the next step of the selection process – you are one step closer to winning that job! You have to make the most of the of the opportunity to tell your story in person and continue to market yourself as the ideal candidate

4. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Purpose of the interview 4 The employer’s objective: to attract and appoint the best applicant for the organisation. They want to assess:  Can you do the job?  Will you do the job?  Will you fit in?

5. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN 5 Feedback from graduate recruiters on common interview mistakes -Lack of preparation -Unprofessional personal presentation -Lack of career direction clarity -Oversharing information / not focussed -Not understanding the organisation or role -Poor communication and interpersonal skills -Not being able to provide relevant examples of experience and skills that fit selection criteria -Focussing too much on the future career opportunities not the job

6. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Interview skill issues faced by international students 6 Cultural differences  Interviewers expect open & direct answers to questions  Need to talk about your achievements with a positive, marketing focus – some cultures emphasize modesty & humility  Body language needs to be open  Eye contact needs to be maintained Communication skills  English may be your second language – focus on speaking slowly & clearly  Focus on the benefits of your foreign language skills

7. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN 7 Demonstrate your commitment to a career in Australia Be very clear about your visa status and work rights Reassure the interviewer by having all the necessary documentation www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/45temp- graduate485www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/45temp- graduate485

8. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN In addition to the standard employee - you can offer: -Bi-cultural / bi-lingual advantage -Latest industry developments and insights from overseas -Provide ‘intelligence’ – assist employers to understand new markets and tap into different networks -Import & export opportunity focus International students have unique value

9. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Types of interviews Group Group Assessment Centre Telephone Behavioural 9 Panel 1:1

10. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN 10 In 2013, on average more than 10 of the following techniques were used to assess graduates’ suitability Behavioural Interviews: 88% Panel Interviews: 81% Reference Checks: 71% Telephone screening: 63% Aptitude tests: 67% Group Interviews: 56% Background checks: 57% Personality questionnaires: 43% Written exercises: 34% The AAGE Employer Survey 2014 Case studies: 31% Medical assessments: 31% Role plays: 9% Emotional intelligence assessment: 14% In-box exercises: 8% Social events: 22% Video interviews: 14%

11. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN 11 Steps to interview success Before the interview -Consider what qualifications, skills and experience the interviewer is seeking -Research yourself and your audience -Be clear about what you have marketed to the employer on paper and how you are going to demonstrate those skills -Review different types of interview questions & practice answering them -Prepare your own questions

12. Swinburne 12 Interview preparation cont’d Research the interview venue – parking, transport timetables Know the names, pronunciation and job titles of the interviewers. Be aware of any latest initiatives.  Decide on professional dress / grooming – ask for an opinion (avoid jingly jewellery, chipped nail-polish, scuffed shoes, go easy on perfume/aftershave, avoid eating spicy food, smoking etc before the interview)  Have your paperwork ready – resume, references, awards, academic transcript, referee details, portfolio of work, visa details TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!!

13. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Steps to interview success 13 Presentation – first impressions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rPNTBIvtn4

14. Swinburne Interview skills 14 What has the greatest impact? 1. Words 2. Voice/Tone 3. Body Language

15. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN -Rapport building / ice breaker discussion -Overview of role and company -Getting to know you and your story -Behavioural questions: preset questions often based on the selection criteria. -Your questions -The close / the next steps 15 Typical structure of an interview

16. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Performance 16 -Review the key selection criteria and understand the skills -that are essential or desirable for the job -Prepare examples -Practice responding to questions

17. Swinburne 17 Your performance during an interview DO… Be yourself. Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills. Be professional, but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Be a good listener. There is nothing worse than asking a question at the end of the interview that the employer has already talked about. Be positive. Don’t talk about your bad feelings or give excuses about a negative experience. Instead, focus on stating positive facts and lessons learnt from your experiences.

18. Swinburne DO… Be clear about what you have to offer Anticipate questions Prepare thoroughly (preparation and practice is key!) Answer the question asked Have the question clarified if not clear Project confidence and enthusiasm At the end of the interview thank the interviewer for their time – make a positive final impression Your performance during the interview

19. Swinburne 19 Your performance during the Interview DON’T… xAnswer questions with a simple yes or no, you need to elaborate whenever possible. On the other hand don’t over answer questions, there needs to be a balance – keep under 2 minutes xBe overbearing, conceited or a know it all, on the other hand you can’t be too modest. There needs to be balance xMake derogatory remarks about your present or former employer, manager or lecturer, it makes YOU seem negative, a gossip and potentially difficult to get along with. xLimit the questions you ask the interviewer to those about remuneration (salary, holidays, bonuses, etc). You don’t want to give the impression you are only interested in your needs, not those of the employer xLie / provide incorrect information

20. Swinburne Interview skills 20 Structuring answers to commonly asked questions

21. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Behavioural questions 21 Past behaviour is the best predictor of future performance Situation – where you were Task – what was asked of you Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish. Action – you took Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you. Result – you achieved What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn? Were there any obstacles that you faced?

22. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN -Describe a recent work or study-related problem. Tell me about the action you took to solve the problem. What was the outcome? -Tell me about a time when you had to work as part of a team and you had a team member who wasn’t being very cooperative or productive. What did you do to help rectify the situation? What was the result? -Tell me about a time when you effectively led a group? How did you do this? What was the result? -Tell me about a time when you failed to complete a project on time, despite your best efforts. What did you do to fix the situation? What was the outcome? 22 Sample behavioural questions

23. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Performance The STAR technique in action 23 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJH8w540MzA

24. Swinburne 24 Tell me about yourself… TIPS: > “Tell me about yourself” does not mean tell me everything. Keep your response professional – answer with your “Profile Statement”. > Keep your answer to under 2 minutes  If answered with care, your response should compliment the interviewers needs as well as support your application.  This is a question you should definitely be prepared to answer as opposed to attempting to “wing it”. > Don’t assume that the interviewer will be able to join all the dots to make sure the interviewer understands how your experiences are transferable to the current position.

25. Swinburne Tell me about yourself … a good answer 25 > At the end of the year, I will graduate with a Bachelor of Information Technology from Swinburne University which is a scholarship program incorporating extended industry placements. I have particularly enjoyed the networking aspect of the course which is reflected in my good results. > Whilst studying, I have also been working in the customer service industry for the past three years as a Sales Consultant with IT Focus, a big computer sales company. Some of my duties have involved … > One reason I enjoy this role, and the challenges that go with it, is the opportunity to connect with a wide range of people. Just recently, I successfully increased sales by 30% for the last financial quarter by... > Throughout my studies and experience I have demonstrated that my real strengths are my attention to detail, ability to solve problems and my natural capacity to build effective customer relationships. > What I am looking for now is an opportunity to gain exposure to business analysis and projects in a company that value IT and sees it as business partner.

26. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Other typical interview questions Ice-breakers / background information -Why have you applied for this role? -What is your preferred type of role? -What do you want to gain from your placement? Resume information -I noticed in your resume that you have experience in X. Tell us some more about that. -Your resume says you studied X. How will that help you in this role? Awareness of the organisation -Why do you want to work for us? -What do you know about our organisation? 26

27. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Motivation and career orientation - Why did you choose this career? - How do you stay knowledgeable about this industry? - Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? Self-awareness - What are your strengths and weaknesses? - What will you bring to the organisation? Hypotheticals or scenarios - How would you deal with an angry customer on the phone? Why would you take this approach? 27

28. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Performance in phone/video interviews -Treat the interview as though it’s a face-to-face interview -Prepare thoroughly -Take the call in a quiet room -Use a reliable phone and network -Ensure your equipment is working -Pay attention to your tone -Be ready to answer salary and availability questions -Have a cheat sheet in front of you together with your resume -Listen carefully and stay focussed -Ensure your appearance is professional 28

29. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN 29 Questions for the interviewer BRAINSTORM

30. Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN Post interview follow-up -Consider sending a thank you email to the interviewers thanking them for their time and to reinforce your interest -Take the time to reflect on your performance -If you were unsuccessful, politely ask for feedback -Treat every interview as a learning experience 30

31. Swinburne Practice interview questions 31 -Tell me about yourself? -What can you bring to our company? -Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem. What did you do and what was the outcome? -Tell me about a time when you had to alter your own priorities with little or no notice due to changing demands? What did you do?