The University of KentCareers Advisory Service

Science Applications Science Applications and Interviewsand Interviews

You can download a You can download a copy of this copy of this

presentation at presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

Research by forum3 found:

The average graduate will send out 70 CVs when looking for their first graduate job. The average number of responses is 7 including 4 rejections and the remainder inviting the graduate to interview or further contact.

The more CVs you send out the more interviews you get. Applicants who included a covering letter with their CV were 10%

more likely to get a reply. Applicants who addressed their application to the correct named

person were 15% more likely to get a letter of acknowledgement and 5% more likely to get an interview.

Applicants sending CVs and letters without spelling mistakes are 61% more likely to get a reply and 26% more likely to get an interview.

The most common mistakes not found in a spell check were: fro instead of for, grate: great, liased: liaised, stationary: stationery.

Other turn-offs: misspelling the name of the company or the addressee, not having a reply address on the CV and trying to be amusing.

Skills gained on your science degree Gather and analyse relevant information from

a wide variety of sources Identify and propose solutions to problems Project management Technical skills Work independently (individual projects) Communicate with others in a clear and

articulate manner Present ideas and arguments verbally in

presentations and seminars, and informal discussions

Sell these on your CV and applications!

“Sell” your degree List relevant modules (plus marks

if good!) Projects – especially if relevant Laboratory skills/IT skills Soft skills – evidence of teamwork,

project management, problem solving etc.

For non-science jobs (e.g. banking) you would need a different CV focusing on your soft skills more than technical skills.

WORK EXPERIENCESummer 2003Sainsbury's, Canterbury

Checkout assistantThis job developed my ability to deal with the public and

work under pressure

Don’t feel you have to include every job“In addition to the above, I have held a variety of

temporary jobs during school and university vacations, including fruit-picking, factory work, bar work and waiting on tables”

INTERESTS Reading, cinema, stamp-collecting, travel

Cinema: member of the University Film-Making Society

Travel: traveled through Europe by train this summer in a group of four people, visiting historic sites and improving my French and Italian

Reading: helped younger pupils with reading difficulties at school

Why you need to use a spell checker I am a prefectionist and rarely if if ever forget details. Proven ability to track down and correct erors. I have good writen comunication skills. Lurnt Word Perfect computor and spreadsheet pogroms. Develop an annual operating expense fudget…

And why you must read it carefully as well Extra Circular Activities At secondary school I was a prefix In my spare time I enjoy hiding my horse I hope to hear from you shorty I am a conscious individual. Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave I have a desire to work with commuters Dear Madman (instead of Madam) My hobbits include - instead of 'hobbies' I am sicking and entry-level position

Example CVsPhysics CV

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/physics-cv.htm

Science Covering Letters www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/goodbadcovlet.htm

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/placementletter.htm

THE COVERING LETTERFirst Paragraph

State the job you’re applying for.

Where you found out about it. When you're available to start

work (& end if it's a placement)

Second Paragraph Why your interested in that

type of work Why the company attracts you

(if it's a small company say you prefer to work for a small friendly organisation!)

Third Paragraph Summarise your strengths

and how they might be an advantage to the organisation.

Relate your skills to the job.

Last Paragraph Mention any dates that

you won't be available for interview

Thank the employer and say you look forward to hearing from them soon.

EMAILING CVSMany employers are happy to accept

CVs as an attachment to an email. Put your covering letter as the body of

your email. Format it as plain text (use the format heading on Outlook Express to do this), so it can be read by any email reader.

Your CV is then sent as an attachment. Say you'll send a printed CV if required.

Email it back to yourself first to check it.

SCIENCE INTERVIEWS

Interview may be “on the hoof”

Technical questions: often on your project – revise it carefully

Research the employer and the job Prepare answers to obvious questions Think of your unique selling points Think of how you would answer

questions about your weaknesses Prepare some questions to ask Dress smartly Leave plenty of time to get there

PREPARATION - THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Why are you applying to us? Why have you chosen science? What makes you suitable for this job? What other jobs are you applying for? Why did you choose your degree course? What have you got out of University? What do you do in your spare time? What

do you get out of it?

PREPARE ANSWERS TO OBVIOUS QUESTIONS

Competency Questions The hardest part of the form for

most applicants - asking for examples of specific skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem solving e.g.

Describe how your personal planning and organisation resulted in the successful achievement of a personal or group task.

Give an example of where others have disagreed with your views. How did you deal with this?

Competency QuestionsAnswers could come from vacation or part-time work; university clubs and societies; voluntary work; study at school or university –

especially projects; holidays and travel or personal and

family experiences. Planning and organising a week’s independent travel in Scotland is as valid an example as a trek through the Himalayas.

The STAR Approach One way of answering these

questions is via the STAR approach - Situation, Task, Action and Result.

It's a bit like a mini essay. The Situation and Task are usually combined and form the introduction

The Action you took, should form the main body of your answer

The Result should be your conclusion

The STAR Approach Situation Whilst employed at Weaver Bros. last

summer Task I was given the task of rationalising the stock

control system Action I would look at factors such as when the stock

was last ordered, what it was used for and how often it was used. I worked out a method of streamlining the paperwork involved in this process and redesigned the relevant forms, which I then submitted to my manager.

Result My ideas were accepted and implemented and a 15% reduction in stock levels was achieved“

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm

Physics Interview Questions How did your physics background help with this application for an

engineering role? Gave tests: fault finding, mechanical pulleys and levers, spatial ability -

"spot the difference" How to calculate an orbit at a given altitude Radiation effects on spacecraft and how to overcome these? Which orbits were best for different types of satellite? What instruments were found on satellites? How did these work? What

were they used for? Questions about wave guides and electromagnetic propagation down the

wave guides. Questions of topics related to my degree: space environment (radiation,

heat, magnetic fields), space power (solar cells), space craft orbits (how to calculate orbit time given altitude), solar wind, interactions of charged particles, Van Allen belts. Electromagnetism, general properties of plasma

Revise your project and relevant topics covered in your degree.

Technical Questions at Interview

Sometimes a funnelling technique is used, where the questions start at a simple and broad level and then gradually become more specific and detailed - perhaps until they reach the point where you cannot answer any further! For example:

What is the structure and function of an antibody? How do you make antibodies? What are the disadvantages of an animal-originating

antibody? How can these be overcome?(Biochemistry student applying for patent attorney

position)

CAREERS WEB SITE Science Interviews

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivscience.htm Applications and Interviews (includes aptitude

tests) www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm

Physics Careers www.kent.ac.uk/careers/physics.htm

Vacancieswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm

DVDs

APPLICATIONS INTERVIEWS ON-LINE APPLICATIONS SELECTION CENTRES All last about 25 minutes and are

excellent! Now streamed on-line

www.kent.ac.uk/careers-local/IntVid.htm

BRUCE WOODCOCK• I’m usually on duty TUESDAY

MORNINGS (10.30 am - 12.30 p.m.) and WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS (2.00 - 5.00 p.m.) for short discussions.

Or to book an appointment for a formal interview ask at Careers Reception or ring 01227 823299

Email: bw@kent.ac.uk

Moodle Careers Employability Award

Assessed by a range of tests and assignments It will greatly improve your career planning and

jobhunting skills, giving you strategies to make appropriate career choices and it will increase your chances of getting a graduate level job.

Takes about 10 hours to complete On completion you will get a University of Kent Careers

Employability Award to add to your CV Current students can gain 40 Kent Employability points for

successful completion of the module. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm

The University of KentCareers Advisory Service

You can download a copy of You can download a copy of this presentation atthis presentation at

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htmwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm