Education

1. Recruitment session-
applying for a job
• Knowing where vacancies are advertised – LCC website, social media, Indeed
• Consider your travel needs, personal needs, career aspirations i.e. jobs with training
• Don’t limit your search – but be realistic
• Read all of the information provided – the advert, the job specification and the
opportunity to talk to the organisation/manager
• Use the opportunity for an informal discussion if available.
• Typical application form contents
• Identify key areas of the specification, some may be essential.Think of a time where
you have the specification and highlight this in your application – keep it concise
and unambiguous
• Set out your career history and explain any gaps
• Identify what training you have received – what your strengths are.
• The application form is the first opportunity to sell yourself – use it well

2. Preparing for your
interview
• Research the organisation
• Look again at the information you have - think of possible questions you may
be asked and your answers
• Make a list of the reasons why you want the job
• Notify the panel of any requirements you may have (disabilities)
• Do you have appropriate clothing for interview/virtual interview?
• If you must attend a face-to-face interview, make sure you know where to go,
how will you get there – test the route out for time
• If your interview is virtual over TEAMS or Zoom – ask for a test run to make
sure you can connect. On the day of the interview please ensure you are in
room where you won't be distracted/background noise
• Prepare some questions for the panel – what do you want to know?

3. The interview
• Relax by taking a few deep breaths
• Speak clearly and slowly
• Ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question
• Long questions – ask them to repeat
• Measure what you say – can you refer to notes
• Relate your past experience to this job plus focus on convincing
the panel you can do this job
• Remember the impact of your body language

4. Your task
Write down answers to these questions:
1. What personal qualities do you have that will make you a good
for this organisation?
2. Why should they chose you over the other candidates they are
interviewing?
3. What are your most important values and why?
4. Why have you applied for this job?

5. Feedback/
self assessment
• What could you have done differently or better?
• Did you feel as well prepared as you could?
• What did you answer well?
• Are they someone you want to work for?
• Does the job live up to your expectations?
• Will it move your career in the direction you want?
• Use this to help you at your next interview. Don’t be defensive – you may
want to apply again in the future. Use it to improve your future performance.