Employability Skills

1. Employability Skills Session 7 Effective Applications

2. Research and preparation Before you put pen to paper……………… Research the employer: Recruitment brochureand website Job description Annual company report GPNU Student Affairs Office /Services for Employability Newspaper articles in papers such as the China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn and China Times ww.chinatimes.com • Research the job: • If you do not have much information provided by the employer on what the job role will involve then you can use the database of graduate job profiles on the Prospects website • www.prospects.ac.uk– Click on ‘Jobs and work experience/types of jobs/job categories’

3. What is a CV/Resume? • Curriculum Vitae= ‘Story of One’s Life’ • A unique document individually written to highlight your personal achievements and experiences. • More than one way to write a CV/Resume. • Rewrite your CV for each application. • Purpose: To get you an interview.

4. When should you use a CV/Resume? • If an advertisement asks you to send a CV/Resume and covering letter or to ‘apply in writing’. • For speculative applications – to find out if an organisation will be recruiting n the future.

5. CV/Resume - content • Personal information • Name • Contact details • Date and place of birth • Resident ID number • Gender • Children • Marital status (married/single) • Experience • List all the relevant employers you have worked for with their with addresses, and what they do. Include your job title and brief description of your daily work activities. If you have worked abroad it is good to show you have gained an international perspective from this and can adapt to a different culture to your own. • Education • School name, address, university name and address, courses (majors) studied and all your results and dates of attendance. You may also need to include your University’s ranking. • In addition you should • State your career objectives, indicating the type of position you are seeking, list any computer skills, languages, strengths and special achievements or qualifications.

6. What about format? • 2 sides • Visually attractive • Good quality paper (white or off-white) • Clear and consistent use of font (s) and layout • Good use of space • Clearly label sections • Concise and easy to read (bullet points rather than long paragraphs) • No particular order, but make it logical • Consider the importance of sections (large or small?) • Avoid time gaps in your history • For multinational companies in China you may also need to include an English CV as well as a CV written in Chinese.

7. How can I make my CV/Resume effective? • Use plenty of power words and phrases • Provide evidence of the skills required for the job • Find out the employer’s requirements by reading the job description and person specification – your CV needs to address all these elements to give you a chance of getting an interview! • Make your CV come alive using an active style of writing.

8. How can I make my CV/Resume effective? • Try this active style • Rather than this inactive style Demonstrated customer care skills by increasing number of regular customers Received bonus payment Initiated promotional scheme which increased sales by 30% Took responsibility for supervising new temporary staff My duties included serving customers in the shop. I had to handle cash and keep the area tidy. I had to work under pressure.

9. Power words and phrases • Use the Prospects website at: www.prospects.ac.uk • Click on 'Jobs & Work Experience' – ‘Types of jobs' • Use the A-Z index to select a job category. • Check out 'entry requirements' for examples of the skills required for the job. • See the 'job descriptions' for examples of useful words and phrases to use on your CV to effectively describe your work experience.

10. Power words and phases • Responsibilities • In charge of… • Supervised/delegated… • Now involved in/coordinate… • Familiar with… • Employed to/handle… • Assigned to… • Project managed… • Roles • Analysed/evaluated… • Established/created/designed… • Formulated… • Initiated… • Managed… • Presented… • Personal attributes • Committed to… • Confident • Enthusiastic user of… • Actively sought… • Experience • Demonstrated skills in… • Extensive academic/practical background in… • Experienced in all aspects of… • Knowledge of/experienced as/proficient in… • Provided technical assistance to… • Ability • Trained in… • Proficient in/competent at… • Initially employed to… • Expert at… • Working knowledge of… • Organised… • Success • Promoted to… • Succeeded in… • Experience involved/included… • Successful in/at… • Delivered

11. What not to do • Don’t make too many applications – avoid CV fatigue! Be selective about which jobs to apply for. • Don’t simply use the same CV/Resume for each job application. • Don’t forget to check your spelling and grammar. • Don’t forget to get some feedback before you send it off to an employer – seek advice from your Student Affairs and Employability Service. • Don’t be negative about yourself – be positive • about your achievements.

12. CV/Resumes • You are in control so… • How can you make your CV/Resume stand out? • Unusual designs, paper, format? • Use of graphics / colour – for some sectors this would be expected e.g. Multimedia, Design, Advertising • Internet CV/Resume? • Content still has to be relevant for the job for which you are applying. • Think about who will read your application.

13. CV/Resumes in the real world • Why employers reject CVs….. • Poor attention to layout – paragraphs not lined up correctly, poor use of space. • Poor writing, poor grammar and often far too long. • Omissions – for example, incomplete qualifications, forgetting to include grades obtained, names of schools/colleges attended. • Lack of relevant experience. • Skills not supported with examples from your experience.

14. Types of application form • Employers, particularly larger multinational ones, are increasingly using online application forms to recruit graduates. • The same care should be taken when completing online applications as you would when completing more traditional paper based application forms. • Sometimes the questions used on the form are competency based asking you to give an example of when you have used a particular competence or skill.

15. Online applications • You might be required to:– Complete it online– Print off the form, complete and post it • The company might:– Give time limits for each question– Use software to scan key/phrases– Read only the hard copy • Remember to use your CV/Resume for reference

16. First steps • Read through the application form carefully first. • Copy form and fill out in pencil. • Follow instructions carefully, e.g. black ink, and/or block capitals (for English). • Don’t simply repeat the information in the recruitment brochure. • Don’t panic!!

17. Types of question • Factual questions • Competency-based questions (about what you can do) • Job/company-related questions • Your career choice • Personality questions

18. Competency -based questions Example: Describe a situation when you were part of a team and did not feel involved or motivated. What did you do and what was the result? • Provide evidence of your skills that are relevant to the job/company to which you are applying. • Answer using the STAR model - Situation, Task, Actions you took, Results achieved.

19. The STAR Technique • Answer the question as a situation, looking at the actions that you took and the results that you achieved. Normally, setting out the situation and task should only take about 20-30% of the answer. • The actions you took should be about 60-70% of the answer - i.e. the main part - and the results achieved about 10% of the answer. Your answers should refer to particular situations, not general ones and should be as recent as possible. • You should always refer to ‘I’ and not ‘we’, even when answering questions about team-working. Try to give answers which relate to extra-curricular activities and work/practical experience as well as to your academic studies.

20. Basic tips • Check spelling/grammar • Don’t attach additional sheets unless asked to do so • Covering letter - only if requested or you have a special point to make • Make it neat, attractive, & not too long/boring. • Make good use of space – not cluttered and no empty spaces. • Use active / positive phrases – see the powerwords and phrases slide • Have it checked by a careers adviser • Keep a copy. • Make sure your form arrives on time.

21. Basic tips – what not to do • Leave spaces or unexplained time gaps in your personal history. • Exceed space allowed for answers. • Disregard the instructions. • Include negative statements about yourself. • Avoid applying for your colleagues! (“We…”). And don’t be passive – be positive! • Don’t miss the closing date!!

22. Tips • As with all forms, check carefully for mistakes, typing errors, grammatical errors. • Avoid text speak and using over casual words and phrases – a very common mistake on on-line forms. • Avoid cutting and pasting phrases from the company's website into your answers – again this can be easily spotted.

23. The Covering Letter • These are not as commonly used by Chinese and state owned companies as they are in other countries. • However, you may also increase your chances of being noticed if you write it neatly by hand in Chinese characters as this shows diligence and patience – traits highly valued by employers. • Should you decide to include one make sure the letter: • Stimulates interest in you and does not merely repeat the CV/Resume • Supports your application – explains the extra value you will bring to the company • Says why the company and role appeal to you • Has a nice positive tone • Is focussed towards the job • Is on good quality paper • Is on one side of A4, 5/6 paragraphs • Has a clear, brief and courteous tone throughout

24. The Covering Letter (continued) • Include:The vacancy for which you are applyingWhere you found out about the vacancyWhy you are applying (for the post and to that company)What you can offer; briefly refer to evidence of required skills andexperience listed in advert/person specification • Use it as an opportunity to expand on information you have mentioned briefly in your CV/Resume and your availability to start the job. • Refer to and encourage the reader to read your CV/Resume, do not merely repeat it.

25. Resources • www.prospects.ac.uk – click on ‘Careers advice/CVs and covering letters’ • www.selectsimulator.com: an online practice application form; useful if completing online application forms for large multinational employers • GPNU Student Affairs/Careers and Employability Office web resources