Jobsearch masterclass presentation mid 2013

latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M
Title of presentation
Name of presenter
Title of presenter
School / Faculty / Division
xx Month 201x
Jobsearch Masterclass
Career Development Centre
La Trobe University

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Seminar Overview
• Researching opportunities
• Resumes
• Online Applications
• Behavioral Questions
• Networking
• Break – Networking morning tea in DW117
• Interviews
• Psychometric Testing
• Assessment Centres

Afternoon Activities
Linkedin Photo Booth
12:45pm - 1:45pm and 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Photography studio: Level 2, Education 2
Interview Skills Session 1:30 – 3pm
• NOW in ELT4
Mock Assessment Centre 1:30 – 3:30pm
• ED1 402

What are the opportunities to get experience?
Formal or informal programs for penultimate or final year students
Vacation programs
• Degree related work usually at end of second last year of study
• Usually offered by large organisations also offering graduate programs
Internships / Work placements
• Supervised work experience in an area related to study and / or career interests
• Can occur at any time of year for various lengths of time
• You can arrange an informal placement yourself!
Cadetships
• Position offered to students or graduates providing training on the job
• Can be full time or part time
• Often offered in conjunction with industry bodies or university faculties

Eligibility for formal vacation programs
• Check eligibility with each employer
• Mostly undergraduate students in the penultimate year of their
degree (ie the summer before your final year)
• Many firms take only students with permanent residence status
• More info on vacation programs can be found at:
http://www.graduateopportunities.com/free-downloads/ebooks/

A sample of organisations offering vacation programs
• Accenture (‘stay tuned’!)
• Aurecon Engineering (apply now, closes 28 July)
• Deloitte (apply now, no listed closing date)
• Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) (open September)
• Ernst & Young (apply now, closes 14 August)
• GE (apply now, closes 21 August)
• KPMG (apply now, no listed closing date)
• McGrath Nichol (apply now, no listed closing date)
• Origin Energy (apply now, no listed closing date)
• Pitcher Partners (applications open August)
• Price Waterhouse Coopers (apply now, no listed closing date)
• Reckitt Benckiser (open 26 July, closes 20 August)
• Reserve Bank of Australia Cadetship (ongoing, check website)
• Suncorp (applications open August)
• Telstra (apply now, closes 29 July)
• Woodside (apply now, closes 24 July for general and 16 August for Accounting)

What are the opportunities for graduate jobs?
Graduate programs
• Structured professional development programs lasting 1-2 years in large
organisations specifically for new graduates
• Many applications must be submitted a year in advance, whilst some are ongoing
• Only one option!
Graduate positions
• Formal full time positions offered by organisations of all sizes to students who are
about to / have recently completed their studies
• Advertised on job boards (seek, careerhub) , by professional associations or just on
company website
Entry level opportunities
• Get a ‘foot in the door’ in an organisation that provides further opportunities for
training and development and work your way up

Typical stages of the selection process*
Reference and Probity Checks
Face to Face Interview
Assessment Centre (usually formal programs only)
Psychometric Testing (usually formal programs only)
Phone Screening (may occur)
Online application

Researching vacation and internship programs
www.graduateopportunities.com/
www.unigrad.com.au/
www.gradconnection.com.au/
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/136

Tips for researching vacation placements / internships
Identify the various sources of information available to you:
 Faculty/school websites and emails
 Industry and professional association websites
 Industry-based learning within your course
 Volunteering

Graduate jobs info and resources

Advertised general job vacancies
• Employment websites
www.seek.com.au
www.mycareer.com.au
www.careerone.com.au
• La Trobe’s CareerHub
latrobe.edu.au/students/careers
• Company websites
• Professional associations
• Recruitment agencies
www.rcsa.com.au
• Newspapers

Tips for job websites
• Register your profile so employers can search for you
• Subscribe to job email alerts
• Check everyday for new listings
• Apply ASAP – many employers close vacancies once they
receive enough applications

Tips for using Recruitment Agencies to find graduate jobs
• They work for the employer, not you
• Register with agencies advertising jobs in your field
• Build relationship with recruiter
• Accept short-term / contract roles
• Ask for feedback on resume, interviews
What are 3 things I could do to improve my interview performance?
In what ways could I make improvements to my resume?

‘Canvassing’ for a graduate job or work placement
1. Identify companies in your target industry to contact
2. Identify potential contacts within each company
Hiring managers, not HR departments!
Use LinkedIn, personal networks, company websites, to find contacts
3. Decide on contact approach
Email, phone, social media, in-person
4. Prepare tailored cover letter and resume
5. Make contact and provide a copy of your resume
6. Follow-up as appropriate or agreed

Resumes – The Essentials
Before creating a resume consider:
• Your unique combination of skills & experience
• How these relate to what the employer is looking for
• Clearly and concisely marketing this information
Resumedevelopment is a process of collating evidence
of relevant skills and experience and marketing
this persuasivelyto a potential employer
Deliver your message in 30 seconds of reading time

Your Resume
Will it get read?
Only if it’s professionally presented
skill you need to demonstrate: attention to detail
Will it get you an interview?
Only if it demonstrates the specific skills, knowledge and personal
characteristics that the position requires and the organisation is
looking for
skill you need to demonstrate: ability to assemble and present
relevant information

Resumes – Your key selling points
What should your resume contain?
• Your awareness of, and participation in, the relevant
industry/profession
• Your objective
• Your achievements
• Your skills
• Targeted for each individual position and employer

Awareness of industry/discipline
• Career objective
• specific & targeted
• demonstrates your motivation and awareness of the
different sectors of industry
• not vague or general
• Evidence of industry-relevant activities: student placements,
voluntary activities, employment, active membership of
professional association, extra-curricula activities

Identifying relevant achievements
• What projects are you proud of that support your job objective?
• What are some quantifiable results that point out your ability?
• When did you positively affect the organization, the bottom line,
your boss, your co-workers, your clients?
• What awards, commendations, publications, etc., have you
achieved that relate to your job objective?
• When have you demonstrated P.A.R. (Problem, Action, Result)?
• Can have a separate Achievements section, or incorporate in
other sections e.g. education, employment

Examples of Achievements
• Promotions
• Positions of responsibility
• Increasing sales figures
• Running a project to change something in your company
• Being part of a team that …
• Winning an award or prize
• Good results in exams or assessments
• Gaining additional qualifications
• Customer service / quality awards
• Outside-work achievements – raising money for charity, being
elected to a committee
• Achieving in individual or group sports

Targeted skills statements get results!
• Identify key skills the position/organisation requires
• Can you demonstrate that you have the skills required for this
job?
• What activities, paid and unpaid, have you done that used skills
you’ll be using at your new job?
• Maximise chances of obtaining an interview by providing
evidence of skills relevant to the position
• Don’t make claims without evidence, eg, stating you have
‘excellent teamwork skills’ without providing context

Skills Statement Examples
SKILLS
Teamwork
• Played netball and basketball on a weekly basis for the last three
years, attended all training sessions and assisted with away game planning
• Regularly filled in for other team members at Eastern Health covering extra
shifts when needed
• Worked in a multi-disciplinary team of 6 students to complete a project on .....
For which we received 80% (A grade)
Organisational Skills
• Coordinated a team of 8 volunteers for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
2011, ensuring fundraising target of $2000 was met
• Organised a venue and liaised with caterers for the La Trobe Ski Club Ball
attended by 450 people, 2012
• Successfully managed a part-time job of up to 12 hours per week, regular
involvement in club sport, voluntary tutoring work and full time study

Online application forms
• 77% of employers have an online application process.
• Designed for you to provide evidence that you have the skills
and attributes matching the selection criteria.
• Filling out application forms can be time consuming - allow at
least 1-2 hours per application.
Source: Unigrad 2012

Strategies to succeed
Research
 the position (what questions are likely to be asked?)
 the organisation (what attitudes & skills are valued?)
 your background (what evidence can you provide?)
̶ your motivation, experiences, skills
Communication
 summarise your key selling points
 keep it simple and structured

Tips for online applications
• Allow plenty of time to complete the application form.
• Read and follow the employer’s instructions!!
• Stick to word limits!!!
• Proof-read for spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Ensure your documentation is of a professional standard.
• Save files in a version that anyone can open.
• Keep a copy of your submitted application.
• Diarise the application closing date and submit your application
well before then.

Online Application Questions
•Closed questions
•Requiring right/wrong or yes/no answers
•More common in assessment tasks, exams, tests
•Open general questions
•Behavioural questions

Typical questions relating to your goals, career objective,
knowledge of company
• What’s the achievement you’re proudest of?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What four words best describe you?
• What appeals to you about our firm and why you would like to
work here?
• Why are you interested in joining our graduate program?
• What are your long term aspirations?
• Please describe what interests you about a career in ......

Question 1
Why do you want to work for the Victorian Public Service as
opposed to other graduate opportunities? What do you feel you
could contribute to the work done by the Victorian Public Service?
(Please limit your response to 250 words or less).
Question 2
Please provide an example of a time when you had to work as part
of a team to accomplish an objective. Describe the task, what your
role in the team was, and what outcomes the team achieved.
(Please limit your response to 250 words or less).
Information that exceeds these limits will not be considered.
(109 words on this slide)
Sample Online Questions

Developing answers to open general questions
Identify your key selling points
• review selection criteria and job description
Demonstrate self-awareness on main issues:
• your skills and qualities, both personal and professional
• how you chose this career pathway
• motivation: why working in this industry and occupation is
important to you
• what makes you passionate about your work in general and this
job in particular
Link your own story to the industry/discipline and the
organisation

Behavioural/Competency-Based Questions
• Used at application and interview stages
• Companies identify the competencies required to do the job
– these form the basis of the questions
• “We can predict future performance from past behaviour”
• You are asked to discuss concrete EXAMPLES from your own
experiences to prove you possess the required competencies
Cues:
• “Can you tell me about a time when….?”
• “Can you give us an example of a time when…….?”
Types of questions: behavioural questions

Example Questions
Communication
“Can you give us an example of a time when you had to
deliver a difficult message to an individual or
team?”
Teamwork
“Can you give me an example of a time when you have
been part of a successful team?”

Tips for answering behavioural questions
• Don’t provide general statements such as “I have extremely
well developed communication skills” without backing it up
with evidence.
• Provide real examples from your studies, work, and extra-
curricular activities that are relevant and specific.
• Include an indicator of success or the result.
• Try to use a different example for each question.
• Adhere to word limits.
• Don’t exaggerate or apologise.

Structure your response in a four-step process: S T A R
S ituation – What was the situation/context
T ask – What was the task/event you encountered
A ction – Describe the action you took
R esult – What was the outcome
Use specific examples - ideally within past 1-2 years, from
your studies, placements, employment, voluntary activities.

Situation Describe the situation / environment you were in
Include context, details and time.
Task What did you need to accomplish to deal with the situation?
What was your role concerning the problem, issue or assignment?
Action What did you do?
Set out the steps you took to resolve the situation
Provide detail – how you listened to the unhappy customer. What
strategy did you use to manage your time? How did you influence
your team?
Result What happened? What did you accomplish? What did you learn?
Promote yourself and your achievements

Example
Can you tell us about a time you have demonstrated excellent
organisational skills?
I have developed excellent organisational skills through my part-
time job as an event assistant at XYZ Events. In this role I am
responsible for booking staff to set up marquees at private
functions. To perform this job I need to identify all jobs booked for
that day, calculate how many staff are needed to set up each
event, and ensure that there is sufficient time to set up each
event by the time required.

Example - action
Excellent organisational skills
Last month I discovered that one of the sales staff had booked an
event, but forgot to enter the booking into the system. As I had
already created the schedule for the event staff to follow, it was
too late to make changes. I quickly made some phone calls to
other event staff not rostered on for the day and found two
people who were able to come to work immediately. I then
arranged for a spare truck to be loaded with the marquees, so
that when the event staff arrived, they were able to deliver the
marquee to the customer immediately.

Example - result
Excellent organisational skills
The result was that the marquee was set up in time, thus avoiding
a major disruption to the customers’ event. My supervisor was
very impressed with the work that I did to resolve the issue and
gave me some movie tickets as a small reward.

• Talking about you
• Sharing your knowledge with others
• Talking with a purpose
• What do you want?
Names, ideas, introductions?
• Communicate your personal brand
How to Network
• Actively listen
• Ask the right questions
• Be interested in the answers
• Ask open ended questions
Networking

Social networking
Facebook
• Will anything be embarrassing if seen by an employer?
• Ensure privacy settings keep employers separated from friends
LinkedIn
• Best for professional networking
• Upload your resume
• Have a professional summary
• Keep up to date with referees and ex-colleagues

How to use LinkedIn
• Add people that you meet including recruiters at the expo
• Join a special interest group related to your field
• Engage in conversations in the interest groups
• Update your status regularly ‘seeking opportunities in...’
• Use the resume builder
• Ask former colleagues and employers to complete a
recommendation on your account
• Follow up your contacts regularly, use the in built email in
LinkedIn or send directly to their email address

Social networking for research
• Use Linked in and other sites to gain further info on graduate
opportunities , employer expectations and company culture
• Forums can be a good source of info on what to expect from
those who have been through the process
o e.g. whirlpool, gradconnection, wikijob etc.

Gradconnection – employer forum sessions

Preparing to attend professional association &
employer events
• Research the event before attending and consider who might
be attending who hires graduates from your discipline.
• Make a list of organisations or people you want to talk to.
• Prepare questions to ask potential employers you are targeting.
• Bring your résumé, a notepad and pen, and a card with your
contact details to give to potential employers.
• Have a neat and tidy appearance.

Develop your elevator pitch
A brief summary that introduces who you are, your
interests, skills and experiences, and states what you are
seeking
“Hi, my name is ... I have recently graduated from La Trobe
University with a science degree majoring in genetics. I’m really
interested in how we can use web 2.0 technology to increase
people’s awareness of inherited disorders. I am interested in the
research work your company has undertaken in this area
especially relating to ...”

Your elevator pitch
Can be used for:
 Networking events – to introduce yourself
 In an interview ‘tell us about yourself’
 In a cover letter introduction (if written formally)
 At a BBQ!

Develop your elevator pitch - Activity
Action: Take 5 minutes to draft out your elevator pitch
What do you want to say about yourself?
• qualification/s and experience
• work competencies and personal qualities
• interest in the position, the organisation and industry
• current situation and availability to commence work

Now you need a business card ...
Be professional, be ready, be contactable!
Action: Take 5 minutes to draft a business card
• Write 3 copies of a business card
• What do you want to say about yourself?
Josephine Bloggs
BA (hons)
Creative writing specialist; blogger; trainer
0400 000 001
jobloggs@gmail.com

Ending a conversation
“I plan on circulating the room, but it’s been great meeting you.
Do you have a card?”
“There are a number of students waiting to chat to you, so I’ll let
you go. Do you have a card?”
“It’s been great speaking with you. I’ll send you a copy of my
resume tomorrow. Do you have a card?”

Follow up
If you don’t follow up, what was the point going to the event?
Consider sending an email or message after the event
• Thank them for their time
• A document or weblink you discussed
• Your resume if appropriate
• Send an invite to join your Linkedin network
21 July 2013

Break – Networking Morning Tea
DWB 117 – student common room
Practice your elevator pitch!

Why an interview?
An interview is used to find out:
• Can you do the job? Do you have the skills, knowledge and
experience appropriate for the role?
• Will you do the job? What’s your motivation? Are you
enthusiastic about the position and the organisation?
• Will you fit in? Do you fit within the organisation’s culture and
workplace environment?

Phone screening
• Many organisations conduct a brief phone interview early in
the selection process.
• This can happen when you least expect it. If the timing is
inconvenient let them know when would be more suitable.

Tips for phone interviews
• Treat a phone interview as seriously as a face to face interview.
• Ensure your phone is fully charged and that you have good
reception.
• Answer your phone in a professional manner.
• Take the call in quiet place, free from interruptions.
• Speak clearly and smile.
• Have your resume and application handy but don’t be
distracted by them.
• Ensure that your voicemail message is professional.

Preparing for behavioural interviews
• Review the selection criteria or key competencies required for
the role; identify the key skills required.
• Prepare examples. Think of examples from your recent past,
draw on a range of experiences – study, placements, work,
voluntary, sport/recreation.
• Identify the STAR steps for each example
• Be specific, describe what you did; don’t give vague statements,
provide concrete examples that demonstrate your skills and
abilities
• Practice responding to questions. Become confident in using
your examples.

Strategies to succeed at interview
Research
• the position (what questions are likely to be asked?)
• the organisation (what attitudes & skills are valued?)
• your background (what evidence can you provide?)
• your motivation, experiences, skills
Communication
• summarise your key selling points
• keep it simple and structured
Behaviour
• Interpersonal skills (eye contact, body language)
• Relax! (you should know the answers!)

Additional interview resources
• www.latrobe.edu.au/students/careers
→ How to succeed at a job interview
• Book a practice interview with a Careers Consultant
• www.seek.com.au/career-resources
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews
• http://www.wikijob.co.uk/
• Youtube employer channels for interview tips e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/user/accentureuscareers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blJwjfDqcvA

Psychometric Testing
What are psychometric tests?
• A series of multiple choice questions which aim to objectively
measure attributes like intelligence, aptitude and personality.
• Can be used to assess ability as well as potential.
• Administered online or using paper and pencil under
standardised conditions.
What do they measure?
• Ability – “Can do”
• Attitude – “Wants to”
• Skills – “Has done”

Aptitude and ability tests
• Measure skills and abilities relevant to a position or occupation.
• Typically cover a broad ability area (e.g. verbal / numerical
reasoning), not knowledge (e.g. accounting).
• Measure intellectual abilities as well as potential to learn and
understand new information in a limited timeframe.
• May simulate elements of a task to assess your ability to perform
that task.
• There are “right” and “wrong” answers.
• Performed under timed conditions.

Aptitude and ability tests
• Abstract reasoning
• Verbal reasoning
• Numerical reasoning
• Spatial reasoning
• Perceptual ability
• Information checking
• Technical
21 July 2013

Preparing for psychometric tests
Find out from the employer relevant information such as:
• What sort of tests do they conduct?
• What do the tests measure?
• How long will the tests go for?
• Can you use a calculator in numeric tests?
• Take practice tests to familiarise yourself with the types of
questions that may be asked.
• Try to undertake your testing in the morning if possible.
• If completing multiple tests, take a break between them.

Strategies for during the test
Personality Inventories
• Don't overly deliberate about any one particular question. Your
first response is usually best.
• Don’t try to answer as you think you should; answer honestly.
Aptitude Tests
• Work quickly and accurately.
• Don’t be surprised if you can’t answer all questions.
21 July 2013

Getting feedback after testing
• Many organisations will offer you feedback, regardless of
whether or not you are successful.
• If feedback is not offered, ask if it can be made available.
21 July 2013

A word on faking
• Most personality inventories have built-in lie detectors to
identify candidates who are answering in a socially desirably
manner (i.e. ‘faking’).
• As many personality inventories measure a range of personality
traits, it’s difficult to ‘fake’ every scale.
• It’s hard to predict the personality traits that organisations are
looking for, so it’s best to respond honestly.
21 July 2013

Improving your test performance
Verbal Reasoning Tests
Read newspapers, reports, business journals.
Do verbal problem solving exercises, e.g. crosswords.
Numerical Reasoning Tests
Read financial reports in newspapers.
Study tables of data and practice your mental arithmetic.
Abstract Reasoning Tests
Solve puzzles in newspapers and magazines involving diagrams.
Play games involving sequences or strategies, e.g. chess, draughts.
Source: SHL
21 July 2013

What are assessment centres?
• A series of exercises or activities designed to assess how
candidates relate to others or how candidates cope with
various tasks and demands.
• Aim to replicate some of the key tasks and assesses how you
deal with the scenarios you are put in.
• Highly structured in their design, application and procedures.
• There will typically be multiple assessors, evaluating you
against multiple competencies in multiple exercises.
• Can last from half a day to three days.
21 July 2013

What happens on the day?
• Several candidates will be present.
• Some exercises will involve other candidates, some you may do
on your own.
• You will be assessed against a number of key competencies
required to do the job.
• Trained observers will rate individuals on a range of
competencies, using a prescribed performance scale.
• There will typically be multiple assessors, evaluating you
against multiple competencies in multiple exercises.

Typical activities
• Ice breakers
• Presentation
• In tray task
• Aptitude tests
• Group task
• Case study
• Role play

What do they measure?
Competencies that may be assessed during an assessment
centre include:
• Team work
• Communication
• Leadership
• Influencing
• Problem solving
21 July 2013

Skills Role Play /
Presentation
In Tray Written
Report
Group
Discussion
Psychometric
Tests
Interview OVERALL
Team Work
Communication
Problem solving
and analysis
Attention to detail
Commercial
acumen
Planning and
organising
Interpersonal
effectiveness
Skills matrix

Preparing for assessment centres
• Find out what sorts of activities will be used.
• Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• Think of examples that demonstrate your skills.
• Familiarise yourself with the job description and know the
selection criteria.
• Research the employer and industry beforehand.
• Dress appropriately.
• Get a good night’s sleep beforehand.
• Stay calm. Practise deep breathing.

Tips for during the assessment
 Listen to and read all instructions carefully.
 Don't make assumptions about the way in which you are
expected to respond. Be yourself and respond honestly.
 Be respectful of the other participants.
 Avoid being either passive or aggressive.
 Employers will be looking at you to see how you interact with
others, during the activities and in the breaks.
 Don't give up if you perform badly on one task. There will be
other opportunities to demonstrate your skills.
 Try not to compare yourself with others.
 Be yourself!

Reminder: Afternoon Activities
12:45pm - 1:45pm and 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Photography studio: Level 2, Education 2
Interview Skills Session 1:30 – 3pm
• NOW in ELT4
• ED1 402

MOCK
ASSESSMENT
CENTRE
YOU ARE HERE
PHOTO BOOTH
AGORA

Directions
Level 2, Education 2
Exit via top lecture theatre doors, turn right and walk along
walkway through HU2 to ED2, you will see ‘photography sign’.
Enter photography services on the right.
ED1 402
Continue walking past photography until you reach ED1. Take
lift or stairs to 4th floor.

Thank you
latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M
Contact Us:
Bundoora: Level 1, Peribolos East
9479 2459
www.latrobe.edu.au/students/careers
careers@latrobe.edu.au
www.facebook.com/LaTrobeCareers
@LTUcareers

Jobsearch masterclass presentation mid 2013

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