Packaging your
AIESEC Experience* *from a Session at
IPM 2005
• Help delegates market themselves well for
the right job/career.
• Help delegates see a recruitment process
from the eyes of employers.
Session Objectives
• What motivates an organisation/company to look for candidates?
• Writing a CV, filling out an application form.
• How do you position your AIESEC experience in your CV?
• Interview tips.
• Setting realistic career expectations.
• Help delegates see a recruitment process from the eyes of employers.
Scope
Why would an organisation recruit
people?
Judgement
The ability to adopt a sharp and rigorous approach to problems, allied with an effectiveness in spotting issues early, in a manner that allows new opportunities and problems to be identified ahead of time, and new perspectives framed.
Drive
A relentless drive to have broad impact, with a preparedness to question and challenge the status quo, and the self assurance that enables goals to be achieved. They want to ‘leave a mark’ rather than just achieve results.
Influence
The individual has a good understanding of him/herself, knows how to influence the behaviour of other people to achieve goals.
Writing a CV
• In groups of 5 or 6, come up with some
narrative that you could put on a CV that describes what AIESEC - the organisation -
is all about. You will be briefed on your
target organisation on the next slide.
• Nominate one of the group to distil this and
share it with the rest of the group (as if you were telling a recruiter).
• You will be asked to come up with a
summary on AIESEC geared to the following recruiters:
– Local charity (NGO);
– Multinational;
– Entrepreneur (SME);
– Venture capitalist;
– Government agency;
– MBA college;
– Intergovernmental organisation or international NGO.
• What are the qualities, skills and
achievements you gained from AIESEC?
• Of these, which would you say are the
most valuable to this potential employer and why?
• CV's are called a variety of things -
tailor to your audience.
Writing a CV
• There is no universally accepted format.
• CVs should clearly explain to the reader
what it is you can do for them.
• You are not writing a CV for yourself, you
are writing it for the reader.
• Your CV should be:
- A well-presented, selling document
- A source of interesting, relevant
information
- A script for talking about yourself
Writing a CV
Remember: The purpose of your CV is not
to get you the job. It is to get you an
interview!!
• How long should it be?
Content
• What format?
- A standard two-page printed CV
- A one-page summary CV
- A ‘skills’ CV
The most common contents of a CV include:
• Personal Details.
• Skills and Career Summary.
• Key Achievements.
• Qualifications.
• Career History.
Developing Your CV
• It should meet the needs of your target
organisation wherever possible. A single ‘generalist’ CV is unlikely to be sufficient.
Content
• It should highlight your achievements and
how they relate to the job/role/scheme you’re applying for.
• It should give the reader a clear
indication of why you should be considered for this role.
• Generally, the document should contain
no more than 2 pages.
What to include
• Your CV should be honest and factual.
• The first page should contain enough
personal details for a potential employer to contact you easily.
• Choose a presentation format that allows
you to headline key skills, key achievements or key attributes.
• Your employment history should commence
with your current or most recent job and work backwards.
• Achievements should be short, bullet-
pointed statements and include your role, the action you took and the result of your
action.
• Leave out information that is irrelevant or
negative.
• Hobbies: Drop them if you run out of
space!!
• Information that clearly demonstrates your
suitability for the role and enhances your chances of being short-listed should be
included near the beginning of the CV.
• Include details of recent training or skills
development events you have attended which could be relevant.
• List all your professional memberships and
relevant qualifications.
• Always include details of languages you
speak (and proficiency level)
• Use good quality paper.
• Be conservative with your presentation and
layout.
• Don't make the margins too deep or too narrow.
• Resist writing lengthy paragraphs - be concise.
• Careful use of bold type can be effective.
• Use a standard typeface (e.g. Times New
Roman or Arial).
Standard CV
• Do not use a small type in the hope of getting
more in.
• CV writing is a repetitive/refining process. No one ever gets a CV right first time.
• Circulate your CV to a few trusted colleagues
for comments.
• Check for spelling or typographical errors.
• Hobbies are not always necessary.
• Be realistic.
Standard CV
• You may be competing against candidates
with more work experience.
Recent Graduate?
• Emphasise recent education, training, courses,
other activities (i.e. positions of leadership – AIESEC).
• Look at course work as an equivalent of work –
present examples of experiences.
• Graduate schemes usually offer best
opportunities.
• Consider a ‘skills’ CV.
• You must feel comfortable with your CV. It's
yours.
Always remember:
• Always take a copy to an interview.
• If possible, tailor each CV for each job
application
• Some recruitment processes (like Graduate
Schemes) require that all candidates fill out application forms.
A few words on Application Forms
• These days, most application forms are online.
• Wherever detailed application forms are
required, remember that recruiters may use it as a process to eliminate.
• Application forms can be laborious, but it is
important you fill them out carefully.
• The nature of the questions in the application
form can provide a view of the qualities and skills they are looking for in the candidates.
A few words on Application Forms
• When filling in applications forms by hand (on
paper), make sure it is legible.
• Always keep a copy of the application form
questions and your answers.
Interview and Assessment:
Do’s and Don’ts
• Demonstrate good non-verbal
communication.
Do:
• Dress for the job or company.
• Listen and take care to answer the questions
• Refrain from talking too much
• Ensure you’re not over-familiar
• Use appropriate language
• Ask questions
Do:
• Put aside any hierarchical barriers or
knowledge of other candidates
• In assessment centres remember you’re not
being observed in one event
• Explain any gaps in your CV
• Be economical with the truth (i.e. don’t lie!):
Don’t even think about it!
Don’t:
• Badmouth your current colleagues, company
or boss.
• Complain
• Talk about people you don’t get along with
• Go unprepared – don’t fail to research the
company/organisation
Remember:
• Interviews and Assessment Centres are 2-way
events
• This could be your one opportunity. Don’t
waste it!
• Be yourself
Setting Realistic Career Expectations
• Your first role is not likely to be the one that
fulfils ALL your career goals!
• Be realistic about the competences you still
need to develop.
• Apart from competence, you also need to
build credibility to develop your career.
• It is unlikely that your first few roles will
enable you to have as much influence as your highest AIESEC role.
Setting Realistic Career Expectations
• You may not get it right the first time – you
find out more about an organisation only after joining them.
• Try and identify a number of functions into
which you can transfer your competence as a start of your post-AIESEC career.
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