Amy Wiggins & Natalie Smith, Careers and Employability Service

How to succeed

What we will be covering:

• Applications • What employers look for • The STAR approach• Applicant Tracking Systems

• Interview skills • Typical questions• How to handle difficult questions• Presentation• Body language

RTFQ!

Re-read and highlight the main points

Write your answer

Check you have covered each point

Include key words

Please let us know why a career at Deloitte appeals to you compared with other career options? (max 100 words in bullet point format).

For questions where you are asked to ‘explain a time when…’, it is useful to use the STAR approach:

Situation – set the scene

Task - what needed to be done/achieved?

Action - this should take up about 80% of the answer, what action did YOU take?

Result - this is the ‘proof’ that you succeeded, try and give evidence such as statistics if possible

Most major recruiters rely on Applicant Tracking Systems to initially scan through CVs, covering letters and application forms. If you do not pass this stage, your application may never be seen.

Case Study: Olu – Business and IT

I applied for 120 placement schemes, the most disheartening thing about it was receiving rejections at 1am in the morning. My applications weren’t even getting to a human being! Allianz was my last shot, and for the first time I made my application relevant, I used key words and I practiced psychometric tests. Not only did I get the placement, but they asked me back after graduation, so I have now started on their graduate scheme.

Use their KEY WORDS from: Job description Person specification Values and mission statement section ‘What we look for’ section

Example: Candidate must have strong communication skills and must be fluent in German

(ensure highlighted words feature in your application)

1. Never send your CV as a PDF: Applicant tracking systems (ATS) lack a standard way to structure PDF documents, info can be mis-read

2. Don't include tables or graphics: ATS can't read graphics, and they misread tables

3. Call your work experience, "Work Experience": The computer might completely skip over your work experience if you haven’t labelled it as such

4. Don't start your work experience with dates: To ensure applicant tracking systems read and import your work experience properly, always start it with your employer's name, followed by your title, followed by the dates you held that title.

Always put your answers in Word first, as not all application forms will spell check (and you can save your answers)

Use the word limit as a guide to how much you should write

Keep in mind the qualities the employer are looking for

37% of employers decided against hiring someone because of what they were wearing

80% of interviewers think it is inappropriate to wear red to an interview

99% of bosses interviewing female applicants say they would be inclined to mark them down if they wore dangly jewellery

95% find low-necked tops and no tights unsuitable interview attire(The Ladders)

Tom: Audit SupervisorBaker Tilly

Alison, Vanessa, Caroline, LizCanterbury Christ Church PGCE

We look for how the candidate is presented. They need to be professional. We also value

communication skills and confidence. The thing that annoys us most in the interview process are the ‘know it all’

candidates!

Tips for women: http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style/what-to-wear/what-to-wear-to-an-interview

Tips for men: http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/interview-appearance/mens-interview-fashion-tips/article.aspx

Be familiar with the employer website

Re-read employer information

Remind yourself why you find this employer attractive

Keep up to date with current affairs

Interview questions may be:

▪ Hypothetical (what would you do if…)▪ Competency based (describe a situation where you…)▪ ‘Traditional’ interview questions (tell me about yourself)

In your answers, keep in mind the skills the employer will be looking for.

Be honest.

Why are you applying to us?

Why have you chosen your degree?

What makes you suitable for this placement/job?

Why should we employ you?

What do you know about the company/industry/scheme?

Tell us about yourself

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What do you do in your spare time?

What is your greatest achievement?

Describe a situation where you had to .....

show leadership make a difficult decision overcome a difficult obstacle refuse to compromise work with others to solve a problem

What would you do differently?

Take turns to be the interviewer/candidate

Interviewer – take notes identifying how the answer fits into the STAR approach (list the situation, task, action and result)

You have 5 minutes so make sure you split your time accordingly

5 minutes

End

What would you do if an irate customer complained about the length of time they had been waiting?

What would you do if you disagreed with something your manager was doing?

What would you do if a person became aggressive when talking to you?

Used precisely because it's impossible to work out your answer beforehand

Tests your ability to think quickly, logically, produce practical solutions

Don't panic! Take a few seconds to think - this shows confidence

There may be many possible solutions.

Ask for some thinking time

Tell them you would need to research the answer

Ask if you can come back to that question later

“I’m afraid I don’t know” is better than waffle

Keep the answer short if you are operating at the edge of your comfort zone

Shake hands warmly, but wait to be invited to sit down.

SmileTry to relax - don’t sit on the edge

of your chair, but don’t slouch.Speak clearly and not too fastDon’t fidgetKeep up good eye contact with the

interviewer

Body language at interviews

Get back into your pairs and take it in turns to be interviewer/candidate

Interviewer – take notes regarding the candidate’s body language using the assessment form

You have 5 minutes

5 minutes

End

Will I have a mentor in the workplace?

How many people work in the team?

Is there room for progression?

How did you progress to your role?

www.kent.ac.uk/ces

www.prospects.ac.uk

medwaycareers@kent.ac.uk

www.facebook.com/ukmemployability

ATS: http://www.cio.com/article/701272/5_Insider_Secrets_for_Beating_Applicant_Tracking_Systems?page=2&taxonomyId=3123