Application & Interview Workshop
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Application & Interview Workshop Final Year Workshop Jess Popplewell Careers Consultant
Transcript of Application & Interview Workshop
Application & Interview WorkshopFinal Year Workshop
Jess Popplewell
Careers Consultant
Today we’ll cover:
1. A reminder of how to prepare to make an
application
2. Preparing CVs and cover letters
3. Interview tips
4. Where can you get more support?
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash
JD Analysis: Graduate Data Scientist
The role:
• Combining domain knowledge
and technical skills to solve
complex challenges.
• Using data science and a variety
of analytical, statistical or
machine learning techniques to
interpret client data.
• Designing and developing
custom software solutions or
tools (e.g. visualisation).
• Building strong relationships,
communicating and collaborating
with clients and colleagues.
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Requirements:
• BSc (min 2.1), MSc or PhD in
science, mathematics or
engineering.
• The ability to interpret complex
data using a variety of analytical,
statistical or machine learning
techniques.
• Some programming skills: Java,
Python, C, C#, C++, R or Matlab.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and
the ability to explain complex
concepts to clients.
• The capacity to quickly learn new
domains and technologies
Based on a real job listing from Tessella
JD Analysis: Graduate Data Scientist
The role:
• Combining domain knowledge
and technical skills to solve
complex challenges.
• Using data science and a variety
of analytical, statistical or
machine learning techniques to
interpret client data.
• Designing and developing
custom software solutions or
tools (e.g. visualisation).
• Building strong relationships,
communicating and collaborating
with clients and colleagues.
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Requirements:
• BSc (min 2.1), MSc or PhD in
science, mathematics or
engineering.
• The ability to interpret complex
data using a variety of analytical,
statistical or machine learning
techniques.
• Some programming skills: Java,
Python, C, C#, C++, R or Matlab.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and
the ability to explain complex
concepts to clients.
• The capacity to quickly learn new
domains and technologies
Based on a real job listing from Tessella
JD Analysis: Graduate Data Scientist
• Problem solving
• Analytical skills (also:
statistical and machine
learning)
• Software
design/development
• Relationship building
• Communication
• Teamwork
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
• Education
• Interpret complex data
• Programming skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to explain
complex concepts to
people at all levels
• Capacity to learn quickly
Based on a real job listing from Tessella
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers Photo by Franki Chamaki on Unsplash
Questions to ask…
• What is this organisation’s core
business?
• Who are its competitors?
• What current issues affect it?
• How does this organisation
make the money it needs to
operate?
• What do its customers want?
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
CV Reminder!
“If the recruiter or hiring
manager has to dig
through your résumé/CV to
find what they are looking
for, it shows them right
away that you are just
looking for any job, not
their job.”
https://www.gradcracker.com/blog/1204/your-cv-is-
your-first-impression-write-it-wisely
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
CV Reminder!
• No more than 2 A4 pages (1 if for Finance)
• Reverse chronological order
• Easily scan-readable!
• Relevant skills the employer is asking for visible
within 7 seconds of reading
• No irrelevant details
• e.g. in UK, no DOB, photograph, gender etc.
• No detail included without explanation
• e.g. hobbies & interests
• Could be read by a machine
• think colour, font, layout
1. Career Discussions – 20 minute
appointments bookable on JobsLive
2. MyCV – upload to JobsLive for written
feedback
3. Imperial Guide to CVs
4. Imperial Careers webpages for CVs
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
CV Support
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Cover Letter Reminder!
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Cover Letter Reminder!
• No more than 1 A4 page (unless specified)
• Standard letter format
• Answers three questions:
• Who are you? (Your professional identity)
• What do you want? (Which opportunity)
• Why? (Why that job role? Why that specific
company? How do your skills match up?)
https://www.gradcracker.com/blog/1204/your-cv-is-
your-first-impression-write-it-wisely
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Other application types!
• Put the recruiter first.
• Answer all their
requirements
• Don’t be negative
• Use ‘similar skills’ to
prove abilities
• The only guarantee
you won’t get a role
is not to apply.
Photo: Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Interviews – what to expect.
Motivational Competency
Technical/
CommercialStrengths
How would you analyse user requirements?
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
When examining assumptions,
what questions do you ask?
Can you tell us about a time when you’ve had
a make a decision on a practical action?
Describe your use of analytical methods like multi-
criteria analysis, optimisation and game theory.
In this role we will ask you to compile data from
images, how confident do you feel about that?
How would you explain complex
information to a range of audiences?
Could you manage multiple projects simultaneously?
Do you work best in groups or alone?
Situation/Scenario
what was the context?
Task
what were you asked/required to do?
Action
what did you do. Specifically YOU.
Result
was it successful? How do you know?
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash
1. Mock Interviews – email
2. Interview & Assessment Centre guides
available from the Careers Service in
Sherfield L5
3. Imperial Careers webpages for
interviews
Careers Service
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers
Interview Support
/imperialcareersevents
@imperialcareers
+44 (0)20 7594 8024
Sherfield Building (L.5)
South Kensington Campus
London SW7 2AZ
Monday - Friday
10:00 – 17:15
The Careers Service
@ic_careers
