Job Applications Module 6 PDF

Module 6: Job Applications P. 44 – 51 Steps Writing a CV Taking the Job Searching Going to the and a Cover or being Job Ads Job Interview Letter...

Module 6: Job Applications P. 44 – 51 Steps Writing a CV Taking the Job Searching Going to the and a Cover or being Job Ads Job Interview Letter Refused 6A: Job Ads and Descriptions p. 44  When companies write job ads, they usually don’t want a huge response. It takes hours to sift through resumes. Companies write job ads to attract a small, select group of applicants. If you understand how to read the job ad, you can write your resume to meet the employer’s criteria. For example, you can tailor your resume to the information in the job ad.  Job ads and descriptions serve as a crucial gateway to potential career opportunities. They provide a detailed overview of the position, company, and requirements, enabling job seekers to assess their suitability and make informed decisions. Here are some key reasons why understanding job ads and descriptions is essential:  Identifying Relevant Positions: By carefully reading job ads, you can pinpoint positions that align with your skills, experience, and career goals. This helps you focus your job search efforts and avoid wasting time on unsuitable opportunities.  Understanding Company Culture and Values: Job descriptions often provide insights into the company's culture, values, and mission. This information can help you determine if the company is a good fit for your personality and career aspirations.  Assessing Your Qualifications: Job ads clearly outline the required qualifications, skills, and experience for a position. By comparing your own qualifications to those listed in the ad, you can assess your suitability and identify any areas where you may need to strengthen your skills.  Preparing for the Application Process: Understanding the job requirements allows you to tailor your resume, cover letter, and interview responses to highlight your most relevant qualifications and experiences. This increases your chances of making a positive impression and securing an interview.  Negotiating Salary and Benefits: Knowing the typical salary range for the position and the company's benefits package can help you negotiate effectively during the job offer process. Components of a Job Ad:  Job title/ position  Company information  Job description  Qualifications and requirements  Salary or wages  Hours of work  Benefits  Application process ❖ Let’s look at the following Job ads and try to identify their components.  d b c a e How to Read A Job Ad 1. Identify the advertiser. Is it the company doing the hiring? Or have they outsourced to a recruitment firm? 2. Note the company. Who’s running the ad? Do you know the company? How big is it? Have you heard of it? What kind of reputation does it have? 3. Review the job title. If it says “manager”, do the job duties really fit with that? 4. Scan for job duties. Vague descriptions may mean that the company doesn’t know what you’ll be doing, that they’re just fishing to see who’s out there, or that they don’t want people inside or outside their company to be privy to their strategic plans. How to Read A Job Ad 5. Determine what they’re looking for. What qualifications do they seek? Phrases like “you must have” or “you need” mean that there’s no point in applying otherwise. But words like “preferably”, “preferred”, “ideally” or “desired” suggest some flexibility. 6. Pay attention to special instructions. Look out for instructions such as “No phone calls”, “Apply by email”, “Include a handwritten cover letter”, “Include three samples of your previous work – submit as PDFs”. 7. Look for pay and benefits information. Do they note pay? Make sure you know your worth before you apply. Does the job include benefits? Tips for finding relevant job ads:  Utilize online job boards (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster)  Network with professionals in your field  Check company websites and industry publications 6B: Writing a CV p. 45 Include name, age, Include names of marital status pets and children List schools and institutions Forget details of in their chronological order, dates, give grades qualifications Give grades Include copies of qualifications Most recent first, give Doesn’t say brief job description, part-time, and holidays Use one from studio Use one taken at a not a machine beach or a party A CV, or Curriculum Vitae, is your professional calling card. It's the first opportunity to make a lasting impression on potential employers. A well-crafted CV is essential for making a positive first impression on potential employers. By effectively communicating your skills, experience, and value proposition, you can increase your chances of securing interviews and landing your dream job. The Importance of a Well-crafted CV  Highlight skills and experience by emphasizing your key achievements and skills, showcasing your capabilities in a concise and impactful manner. This demonstrates your understanding of the specific role and company, increasing your chances of being considered a strong candidate.  A well-written CV tells a compelling story about your career journey, highlighting your growth and development.  A well-organized CV allows recruiters to quickly identify relevant information and assess your suitability for the role. Therefore, a strong CV can be a deciding factor in whether you move forward to the next stage of the hiring process.  A well-crafted CV can boost your confidence and make you feel more prepared for the interview process. Headings and categories commonly used in CVs:  Contact information/ personal details  Professional summary or objective  Education  Work experience/ employment history  Skills  qualifications  Projects  Hobbies and interests  Publications (if applicable)  Referees/ references Contact information section 1. Full name 2. Professional title 3. Email address 4. Telephone number 5. LinkedIn profile (if your LinkedIn profile information doesn’t match that on your CV, you’re out) 6. Home address Professional summary or objective Section  After this you need to write a well-written CV personal profile statement—a short, snappy paragraph of 100 words tops that tells the recruiters why you are just the candidate they’ve been looking for. This statement can either be a CV objective or a CV summary.  Sum up your unique selling points and, in a brief sentence, state your accomplishments and how these will help you succeed in the job you are applying for.  Here is a guide that can help you write your own personal Statement/Personal Profile for Resume/CV ( https://zety.com/blog/cv-personal-statement-profile)  Work experience Section Focus on your measurable, relevant achievements, not just your duties. Use action verbs: “created,” “analyzed,” “implemented,” not “responsible for creating, analysis and implementation.” Tailor your CV to the job posting—read the job description carefully and check what tasks will be expected of you. If you’ve done them before—put them on your CV, even if those weren’t your primary responsibilities. As a graduate, your CV can't show a great deal of work experience, but it can show aptitude and character. Take the time to think more widely about how what you've done can benefit your potential employer. You need to come across as a bright, independent, motivated person who could be of real advantage to an employer. Always remember that whether you have two months or 20 years worth of experience, the rules are the same – show what you've done or have the potential to bring to the table. At the end of the day, they will look for candidates who will help them to achieve these objectives. Education Section  Year of entry and graduation year (if you’re still studying, write ‘present’ or the expected graduation date)  Your degree  Institution name  Honors (if applicable) What if you’re writing a CV with little or no work experience? If such is the case, you should do two things:  First of all, place your education section above your work experience.  Secondly, elaborate a bit more on your academic experience. Include, for instance: 1. Relevant coursework 2. Your dissertation title 3. Favorite fields of study 4. Your best achievements 5. Extracurricular academic activities Skills  When it comes to skills for a CV, try to keep it as relevant to the job you’re trying to apply for as possible. Also, try to add a short description of each to indicate your level of proficiency. For example, “Excellent,” “Advanced,” or “Basic.”  From management talk to obscure abbreviations, the world of business is packed full of clichés and most of us hate them. Do your readers the courtesy of avoiding clichés like: 1. Team player – would anyone claim the opposite? 2. Project management skills – unless you can back it up with an example, this is just a fancy way of saying that you are organised. 3. Results orientated – as opposed to what? 4. People management skills –were you actually a manager, or did you simply get on well with your customers and colleagues? 5. Good communicator – on the phone, in person or by email? There are countless ways to communicate and your other skills and achievements should suggest this anyway. Referees/ References Section  A referees or references section in a CV provides potential employers with contact information for individuals who can vouch for your qualifications and character.  Why is it important? o References can confirm the information you've provided in your CV. o They can offer a third-party perspective on your abilities and potential fit for the role. o References can help build trust with potential employers by demonstrating that others vouch for your skills and character.  Who should you list as references? Former supervisors, Colleagues, Professors or mentors  What information should you include for each reference? o Full name: The complete name of the reference. o Title or position: Their current or former title or position. o Company or organization: The name of the company or organization they are affiliated with. o Contact information: Their email address and phone number. Guidelines: 1. Go for one of the standard CV typefaces: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, Times New Roman or Bookman Old Style and use 11 to 12 pt font size and single spacing. 2. For each section heading, use bold and contrasting text from the main body text. For example, use Helvetica for the title of the section and use Times New Roman for the subsequent text. 3. For your name and section titles, pick 14 to 16 pt font size. 4. Mistral and Copperplate are two of the preferred fonts that enable your name to stand out amongst the traditional Times New Roman style employed by 99.9 per cent of job applicants. 5. Set one-inch margins for all four sides. 6. Make sure your CV headings are uniform—make them larger and in bold but go easy on italics and underlining. 7. Stick to a single dates format on your CV: for example 11-2017, or November 2017 For more tips and templates on how to write, you can visit this website:  https://www.monster.ie/career-advice/CVs-applications/cv-advice  https://www.monster.ie/career-advice/cvs-applications/free-cv-templates  Personal details Skills Permanent address Hobbies and interests Date of birth Title Employment history Marital status Referees Qualifications Educational history Surname  Employment history Personal details Date of birth Educational history Hobbies and interests Referees Skills 6C: Writing a Covering Letter p. 46 Writing a covering letter  A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application (alongside your CV or Resume). Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long (or between a half a page to ⅔ of a page long). A good cover letter can spark the HR manager’s interest and get them to read your resume. Remember to include these 3 points in your resume:  Who you are  Your qualifications and how they can benefit the employer  A call to action asking to schedule an interview  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHg0b7Nai6c Structure of a covering letter  Header  Receiver’s information  Salutation [Dear Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms.]  Body paragraphs (highlighting relevant skills and experiences)  Conclusion  Closing  Your header should be your name, contact number and email address. You can keep it similar to the header on your resume but don’t include your address. You should then include the receiver's name, title, company name and address.  If you can’t find the name of the hiring manager, you could leave that off. You can address the letter as “dear hiring manager” but always try to make an effort to find out the hiring manager in charge. Three paragraphs is a good length for a good covering letter  Paragraph 1 should be an introduction to who you are and the position you’re applying for. Include where or how you found the opening, the title and a job ID number if there is one. You should also lead into the next paragraph by stating a brief summary of qualifications or your interest in the position.  The second paragraph should discuss your qualifications and the achievements which show why you’re a good fit for the position. Remember that you want to stand out from the other hundreds of candidates that are applying for the position. So don’t just give examples of what you did in your last position, show how you went above and beyond. Mention a few examples of quantifiable or measurable achievements in your career. Use compelling language and don’t repeat the information in your resume. Try to bring your experience to life and this will encourage the reader to look into your resume in more detail.  In the third and last paragraph, close it out by saying you feel that you’re a good fit based on your qualifications. Remember, you should include a call of action - which in this case would be inviting you to an interview. Ask them to give you call and schedule in interview. And the last thing you should do is thank them for taking the time out to consider you. Here is another example, the structure may seem different, but the content is similar, this is just to show you that there is not just one way to write the ‘perfect covering letter’  https://novoresume.com/career-blog/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-guide  CV vs. Cover Letter Differences CV Cover Letter Length Two pages or a little more Less than one page Contents Name, contact information, education, work Brief information about the experience and relevant work-related skills. Includes person, work experience, Job a summary of academic background as well as profile looking for, career goal. teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and other details. Purpose In Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, employers To complement the CV or expect a CV. In the U.S., a CV is used primarily when resume, briefly introduce applying for academic, education, scientific or yourself and explain your research positions. interest and fit for the job.  3 1 2 4 3 4 3 1 2 2 Provide you with Give you request Ask for In addition Another thing reply answer Please find enclosed I have included available free currently At the moment vacancies Available jobs Post job complete finish discuss Talk about 6D: Video CVs p. 47  What is video CV? Is a tool that you can use to help you get your dream job. It’s a way for you to showcase your personality, create a great first impression, and emphasize your talent and skills. It’s more than just transforming your paper resume into a video format. Why create a video CV ? can help you stand out in a competitive job market. perfect way to get your message across successfully and effectively. will get your message across straight away. could attract the interest of a employer who has been filtering through paper CVs all day. ( According to visual to leave a lasting impression. communication, people remember 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they If you’re in a creative industry, particularly one that read, and 80% of what revolves around design and motion graphics. they see and do.) How to make a video resume: 6 top tips Make it Write script Keep it short professional Make it relevant Get creative Collect feedback First things first: Do not wing it. Just like a paper cv, your video cv should be To ensure your video includes everything specific to the role you are applying for. that you need to cover If you’re going to According to a study by Wistia, the ideal video be on camera length for maximum viewer engagement is 1-2 minutes, with 90 seconds being the sweet spot. it’s also best to You don’t want to be reading from it while filming  you need to make your video worth watching ,Think outside the box and get creative when it comes to filming your video. your video should be of a professional quality. It’s fine to shoot it (or animate it) yourself, but make sure Before sending your video cv out to that the lighting, framing and editing are akin to that of a employers, ask your family and video made by a professional. friends to critique it. It’s always better to get feedback from others because Also, make sure that your voice can be heard clearly– they may spot a mistake that you whether you’re speaking directly to the camera or recording missed a voiceover. If you’re a little uncomfortable in front of a camera, no problem! Not all video CV need to show a candidate talking directly to a camera. Other styles include: Whiteboard Animation Stop-motion video  training received major self practical attended undergoing interacting 6E: Identifying your Strengths and Skills p. 48 Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is essential for personal and professional growth. Why? Here are some key reasons why it's important:  Self-Improvement: By understanding your strengths, you can leverage them to achieve your goals and overcome challenges. Identifying your weaknesses allows you to focus on areas where you need to improve, leading to personal and professional growth.  Goal Setting: Knowing your strengths and weaknesses helps you set realistic and achievable goals. You can focus on tasks that play to your strengths while developing strategies to address your weaknesses.  Decision Making: When you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses, you can make informed decisions about your career, relationships, and personal life. You can choose paths that align with your abilities and avoid situations that may be detrimental to your well-being.  Effective Communication: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses can improve your communication skills. You can be more assertive when expressing your strengths and more receptive to feedback on your weaknesses.  Resilience: Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you build resilience. When faced with challenges, you can draw on your strengths to overcome obstacles and bounce back from setbacks. Know Yourself 6F, 6G, and 6H: Preparing and Going for a Job Interview pp. 49 + 50 + 51 First of all, let’s watch this video together and try to take notes on the interviewee's:  Body language (posture, eye contact, gestures)  Verbal communication (tone of voice, clarity, articulation)  Responses to questions (relevance, depth, enthusiasm)  Overall impression  Specific examples of good and bad interview behavior. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmzYrjAsDng Interview Advice Worst scenarios during job interviews!  Receptionist Looked like an interesting job and would like to move up in the company Knowledge of the company, enthusiasm, and ability to get well with people Use of spreadsheets and software used in accounting She was on a temporary contract covering someone on maternity leave. Terms and conditions of the job compared to Time management, knowledge of accounting and the her current position kind of software used in used in finance Processes and software, time management, and administrative jobs reliable enthusiastic Decisive determined Ambitious flexible Hard-working creative Going to a job interview : Here are some tips to help ace a job interview 1. Research the industry and company. 2. Clarify your "selling points" and the reasons you want the job:  Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such as what makes you the best candidate for the position (e.g. I have good communication skills, I once persuaded an entire group to …). And be prepared to tell the interviewer why you want that job – including what interests you about it, what rewards it offers that you find valuable, and what abilities it requires that you possess. If an interviewer doesn't think you're really, really interested in the job, he or she won't give you an offer – no matter how good you are! 3. Anticipate the interviewer's concerns and reservations.  There are always more candidates for positions than there are openings. So interviewers look for ways to screen people out. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself why they might not want to hire you (“I don't have this,” “I'm not that,” etc.). Then prepare your defense: “I know you may be thinking that I might not be the best fit for this position because [their reservation]. But you should know that [reason the interviewer shouldn't be overly concerned]." 4. Prepare for common interview questions. 1. Basic interview questions: 4. Career development questions:  Tell me about yourself.  What are you looking for in terms of career development?  What are your strengths?  How do you want to improve yourself in the  What are your weaknesses? next year? 2. Behavioral interview questions: 5. Getting started questions:  What was the last project you led, and  How would you go about establishing your what was its outcome? credibility quickly with the team?  Give me an example of a time that you felt  How long will it take for you to make a you went above and beyond the call of significant contribution? duty at work.  Can you describe a time when your work was criticized? 6. More questions about you:  How would you describe your work style? 3. Salary questions:  What would be your ideal working environment?  What salary are you seeking?  What's your salary history? 5. Line up your questions for the interviewer.  Come to the interview with some intelligent questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your knowledge of the company as well as your serious intent. Interviewers always ask if you have any questions, and no matter what, you should have one or two ready. If you say, "No, not really," he or she may conclude that you're not all that interested in the job or the company. A good all-purpose question is,  "If you could design the ideal candidate for this position from the ground up, what would he or she be like? // what is the company’s plan for growth in the next few years? How might my position grow or change as a result? // what opportunities for advancement or additional duties would I have here? 6. Practice, practice, practice.  you shouldn't do your practicing when you're "on stage" with a recruiter; rehearse before you go to the interview. The best way to rehearse? Get two friends and practice interviewing each other in a "round robin": one person acts as the observer and the "interviewee" gets feedback from both the observer and the "interviewer." Go for four or five rounds, switching roles as you go. Another idea (but definitely second-best) is to tape record your answer and then play it back to see where you need to improve. Whatever you do, make sure your practice consists of speaking aloud. Rehearsing your answer in your mind won't cut it. 7. Score a success in the first five minutes.  Some studies indicate that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five minutes of the interview – and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to confirm that decision! So what can you do in those five minutes to get through the gate? Come in with energy and enthusiasm, and express your appreciation for the interviewer's time. (Remember: She may be seeing a lot of other candidates that day and may be tired from the flight in. So bring in that energy!)  Also, start off with a positive comment about the company – something like, "I've really been looking forward to this meeting [not "interview"]. I think [the company] is doing great work in [a particular field or project], and I'm really excited by the prospect of being able to contribute." 8. Be assertive and take responsibility for the interview.  Perhaps out of the effort to be polite, some usually assertive candidates become overly passive during job interviews. But politeness doesn't equal passivity. An interview is like any other conversation – it’s a dance in which you and a partner move together, both responding to the other. Don't make the mistake of just sitting there waiting for the interviewer to ask you about that Nobel Prize you won. It's your responsibility to make sure he walks away knowing your key selling points. 9. Be ready to handle illegal and inappropriate questions.  Interview questions about your race, age, gender, religion, marital status, and sexual orientation are inappropriate and in many areas illegal. Nevertheless, you may get one or more of them. If you do, you have a couple of options. You can simply answer with a question ("I'm not sure how that's relevant to my application"), or you can try to answer "the question behind the question": "I don't know whether I'll decide to have children in the near future, but if you're wondering if I'll be leaving my job for an extended period of time, I can say that I'm very committed to my career and frankly can't imagine giving it up.“ 10. Think positive.  No one likes a complainer, so don't dwell on negative experiences during an interview. Even if the interviewer asks you point blank, "What courses have you liked least?" or "What did you like least about that previous job?" don't answer the question. Or more specifically, don't answer it as it's been asked. Instead, say something like, "Well, actually I've found something about all of my classes that I've liked. For example, although I found [class] to be very tough, I liked the fact that [positive point about the class]" or "I liked [a previous job] quite a bit, although now I know that I really want to [new job]." 11. Close on a positive note.  If a salesman came to you and demonstrated his product, then thanked you for your time and walked out the door, what did he do wrong? He didn't ask you to buy it! If you get to the end of an interview and think you'd really like that job, ask for it! Tell the interviewer that you'd really, really like the job – that you were excited about it before the interview and are even more excited now, and that you're convinced you'd like to work there. If there are two equally good candidates at the end of the search – you and someone else – the interviewer will think you're more likely to accept the offer, and thus may be more inclined to make an offer to you. 12. Bring a copy of your resume to every interview. 13. Make the most of the "Tell me about yourself" question.  Many interviewers begin interviews with this question. So how should you respond? Consider responding to this question with something like: "Well, obviously I could tell you about lots of things, and if I'm missing what you want, please let me know. But the three things I think are most important for you to know about me are [your selling points]. I can expand on those a little if you'd like." Interviewers will always say, "Sure, go ahead." Then you say, "Well, regarding the first point, [give your example]. And when I was working for [company], I [example of another selling point]." Etc. This strategy enables you to focus the first 10-15 minutes of the interview on all of your key selling points. The "Tell me about yourself" question is a golden opportunity. Don't miss it! 14. Speak the right body language.  Dress appropriately, make eye contact, give a firm handshake, have good posture, speak clearly, and don't wear perfume or cologne! 15. Be ready for "behavior-based" interviews".  One of the most common interview styles today is to ask people to describe experiences they have had that demonstrate behaviors that the company thinks are important for a particular position. You might be asked to talk about a time when you made an unpopular decision, displayed a high level of persistence, or made a decision under time pressure and with limited information, for example.  Step 1 is to anticipate the behaviors this hiring manager is likely to be looking for. Step 2 is to identify at least one example of when you demonstrated each behavior. Step 3 is to prepare a story for each example. Many people recommend using SAR (Situation- Action-Result) as a model for the story. Step 4 is to practice telling the story. Also, make sure to review your resume before the interview with this kind of format in mind; this can help you to remember examples of behaviors you may not have anticipated in advance. 16. Send thank-you notes.  Write a thank-you note after every interview. send them by email, depending on the interviewers' preferences. Customize your notes by referring specifically to what you and the interviewer discussed; for example, "I was particularly excited about [or interested by, or glad to hear] what you said about..." mind that the notes should be sent within 48 hours of the interview.  To write a good thank-you note, you'll need to take time after each interview to jot down a few things about what the interviewer said. Also, write down what you could have done better in the interview, and make adjustments before you head off for your next interview. Useful links  Engineering job interview questions and answers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdSvEYDzzk4  Mock interview practice online: https://interviewaipro.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9eO3BhBNEiwAoc0- jR4VynNbjPJDG9CHtNAodW1yMBeUsypGwWuE2TIWZ1PSn- yo9RcNxhoCt6IQAvD_BwE