Job Seeking and Interview Techniques

Job Seeking and Interview Techniques

Aims of today s session Improve the content, layout and attractiveness of your resume Advice on how to apply for jobs Make you more confident and better prepared for interviews Learn how to turn interviews into job offers

Resume Preparation Tips for writing a successful resume: Make your resume relevant to the position you are applying for Ensure the resume is easy to understand and clearly written List any achievements you have had at work Make sure the resume accurately reflects your skills and experience Keep electronic copies of resumes and cover letters

Resume Content Your resume (CV) should be classified into 4 areas 1. Contact details (name, email, address, phone) 2. Personal profile and objectives 3. Education and Qualifications 4. Work History 5. Interests

Personal and Contact Details Your personal details should look like this Name Date of Birth (Optional) Contact Address Mobile phone number Email Address (use suitable email address)

Personal Profile This part of your resume is an opportunity to tell the employer more about your personal skills and why they should employ you! Example: I am a driven, hard working individual from the UK currently looking for a position that will allow me to apply my skills and learn new ones. I can follow instructions and work effectively with or without supervision. I pride myself on my smart appearance, punctuality and ability to be flexible. I consider my determination and willingness to learn to be particular strengths. To enable me to enjoy the best experiences whilst in Australia, I am looking to work within the hospitality, retail or customer service industry. I would love the opportunity to contribute towards the future success of your company. I have completed my RSA course and am available to start work straight away.

Education and Qualifications Outline your most recent education and qualifications at the top of the resume. 2010-2013 St George University Degree in English Literature 2:1 2000-2010 St Peters College Passes in English, Maths, French, German, Science, Geography, Physics and PE Don t forget to include extracurricular activities you may have been involved in i.e. member of school soccer team, or Head of Student Union

Work History and Skills This is the most important part of your resume, as it explains why you are suitable for this role and how your experience is relevant. Explain what your previous jobs entailed - even if you think the employer will know Detail the experience you have that is relevant to the job List your main duties, i.e. cash handling, customer service etc Include any voluntary, casual or part time work as well as internships and work experience it all helps!

Key Words It is a good idea to use key words from the job advert in your resume. This shows links between you and the available job. Example- Experienced Customer Service Assistant who is competent using Microsoft Office, Outlook and the Internet. An outgoing, confident communicator with excellent people skills. Remember to SELL yourself!

Resume Do s and Don ts Do s and Don ts: Do spell check your resume before sending it to an employer Do list your most recent work experience first and then work backwards Do write in English as the employer may not be familiar with words in different languages Do explain what you have done in each job and highlight experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for Do not include information about the occupations of your family- this is not commonplace in Australia Do not use small or difficult to read text Create a professional looking email account: firstname.lastname@gmail.com is much better than loopylou@hotmail.com

Mistakes to avoid! Poor layout, mix of fonts, speling mistakes- can you spot the mistakes below? Lindeman Isalnd Resrt, Hoosekpr Sep 06-March 08 Dutys- COOKIng, cleanin, hand cash Costumer servuce An employer only spends 30 seconds looking at a resume - make sure yours is not overlooked due to these common errors

No photos on your resume! Australian resumes do NOT typically have photos on them. You will be amazed how many resumes we see with photos like this! Would you employ any of these people? If in doubt, don t include a photo on your resume!

Putting it all together You should now be able to put together a professional, easy to read, informative resume that will sell your skills and outline your experience. Remember- Keep an electronic copy of your resume, references and certificates Spell Check EVERYTHING!

Resume

Cover Letters A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out. Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and having your resume ignored! Focus on the job at hand. It's fine to tell a prospective employer how great you are. But people are only interested in how your greatness relates specifically to the position they are looking to fill. In other words, do you have the particular skills and talents they need? Less is more. There is no need to write more than one single page for a covering letter. Employers are busy, and brevity is appreciated. Do some research about the company first. The best type of letter is one which is typed. Don't handwrite unless specifically instructed to do so. Get the little things right. Make sure that the names are spelled correctly - in fact, make sure ALL words are spelt right. Check the grammar and punctuation.

Cover Letter Example Here is an example cover letter for a trade machinist position: Why it was a winner... Clear reference to the position Brief but succinct - highlights the core skills needed Dear Mr Wayne, I wish to apply for the position of machinist (ref 301/00) that was advertised on www.seek.com.au on 20 August 2015. I have over five years experience as a Machinist with Weaveanduck and have experience of a wide variety of pattern techniques. My technical skills are second-to none, and I have an excellent record as a reliable, productive employee. I am looking for new challenges and the position of Machinist sounds the perfect opportunity. Your organisation has an enviable record in innovation in machining, and an excellent reputation as an employer, making the position even more attractive. I enclose my resume for your inspection and look forward to hearing from you soon. I am available for interview at your convenience. Yours sincerely, Alfred Bruce

Job Websites www.gumtree.com.au (Search by city e.g. sydney.gumtree.com.au watch out for scams!) www.spotjobs.com (Casual and entry level jobs in Australia) www.seek.com.au (Get registered for job email alerts so you can receive job offers daily) www.jobfortraveller.com.au (Australia-wide traveller focussed jobs and working hostels) http://jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/ (Search for farm jobs suitable for backpackers)

Job Websites Christmas, Seasonal and Tourism Jobs Magic Memories Tourism Photography - www.magicmemories.com Luna Park Theme Park - www.lunaparksydney.com/casual-guest-services-positions Star Casino - www.star.com.au/careers/pages/your-future-starts-here.aspx Hospitality agencies Pinnacle People - www.pinnaclepeople.com.au Christmas casual jobs SEEK + Gumtree SEEK keyword search Gumtree keyword search Working holiday jobs SEEK keyword search Gumtree keyword search

Job Websites Searching Tips DON T APPLY FOR FULL TIME JOBS! DON T APPLY FOR PERMANENT JOBS! ALWAYS APPLY FOR - CASUAL/VACATION OR TEMPORARY/CONTRACT JOBS YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO WORK FULL-TIME HOURS WITH SOME CASUAL JOBS! PERMANENT JOBS ARE ONLY SUITABLE FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF AUSTRALIA

Job Seeking in Person! Many job seekers find work by introducing themselves in shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Things to remember: Always ask for the manager. You may not get the desired response from a member of staff you are after their job after all! Introduce yourself with your name, where you re from - shake their hand firmly, eye contact, big smiles! Tell them that you are in town for anything up to 6 months (preferably) and looking for regular casual work Dress to suit the nature of the business. DON T go dressed like a backpacker! Give them your resume and tell them you are available for a trial or interview

Job Seeking in Person! LOOK IN THE SHOP WINDOWS! A JOB COULD BE RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE!

Interviews Interviews can be nerve wracking, but this guide will help you to feel confident and organised when you go to an interview. Before the Interview - PLAN AHEAD Where is the interview and how do you get there on time? www.131500.com.au What does the company do? Look them up online! Prepare some questions that you can ask at the interview to show your interest in the job Think about your appearance - do you have something suitable to wear? Prepare some answers to questions you are likely to be asked The better prepared you are, the more successful the interview will be!

Interviews What to wear? Business casual dress is recommended at all times! No beach attire! You want to give the employer the right impression.

The Interview The interviewer will be looking for the following from a prospective employee How to handle the pressure of the interview Your communication skills Your suitability for the job What you know about the company and why you want the job

Feeling nervous? You may feel nervous about the interview, but try to remain calm, take deep breaths and think about your answers. DO NOT- Go quiet and not answer the question or talk too much and go off the subject A lot of people feel uncomfortable at interviews, but stay calm and ask for a question to be repeated if you do not understand it.

Communication Good communication skills are very important, and will help you a lot in an interview Have a think about these frequently asked questions and how you might answer them - What relevant experience do you have? Why should I employ you? Give me an example of a stressful situation you had to handle What are your biggest strengths? How do you feel about working different shifts?

Handling tricky questions You will get some tricky questions such as: Q. What are your weaknesses? A. I would like to improve my Excel skills. I have an intermediate knowledge of this package, but feel that I can improve my skills further Q. What makes you think you would enjoy working for us? A. I have worked in a similar role before, which I really enjoyed. I have an interest in travel and feel that this would really benefit me in this role Q. Do you work well under pressure? A. I prefer to be kept busy and handle pressure by prioritising tasks and keeping a check list Q. Don t you think you are a bit young for this job? A. I am a young but mature person and have gained a lot of experience in my previous roles that will assist me in this job. Q. Why should I hire you if you re going to go travelling in a few months? A. I am mainly in Australia to gain international work experience. I aim to work up to six months and reward myself with travel once I have achieved my ultimate goal which is to work, improve my existing skills in the workplace and develop new ones.

Body Language As well as being appropriately dressed and feeling confident, you need to show this in your body language too. Dos and Don ts Do maintain eye contact with the interviewer Don t cross your arms- it looks defensive Do turn your body to face the person that is asking you a question, especially if there are two people Don t slouch in the chair Do turn off your mobile phone Don t look out the window or around the room- you will appear bored Do sit upright

After the Interview At the end of the interview, here are things you can say: Thank you for taking the time to see me I look forward to hearing from you I have enjoyed meeting you If you have not received feedback within a few days, it is fine to ring the employer and ask for feedback. If you do not get the job, do not be disappointed, take it as constructive criticism and use the information you have been given to improve next time. PLAN PREPARE STAY CALM BE FOCUSSED LEARN FROM MISTAKES