Finding your ideal job is a daunting task for any graduate. Here are a few pointers to help you get started.
Differentiating Your CV – How do you ensure it gets noticed?
- Interrogate the job spec and tailor your CV for the role you are applying for - make it easy to identify your relevant skills
- Include a personal profile, focusing on your key attributes and overall career objective
- Don’t be afraid to sell yourself – include all work experience to date
- Include any leadership roles or specific achievements from college or extra-curricular activities
- Clear and Consistent layout – check for any errors in spelling and grammar
- Check & Double Check the dates – fill in any gaps
- Professional email address and voicemail – remember that employers will be contacting you!
The Job Hunt – Looking for a job is a full-time job!
- You need to be – Organised, Positive, Focused and prepared to Follow Through
- Use your personal network – friends, relatives, former colleagues etc.
- Create your LinkedIn profile with a professional photo
- Keep up to date with industry news – IDA, LinkedIn Groups, newspapers etc.
- Sign up to the Recruitment Websites
- Follow up on applications
The Interview – Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail!
THE GOLDEN RULES:
- Research the company – Company Website, Google It, Use your Contacts
- Review the job description in detail – Why are you the person for the job?
- Know your CV – Be prepared for any question on the content
- Prepare specific examples for sample interview questions
EXAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
- What do you know about our company?
- What influenced you to choose your college course?
- Would you describe yourself as goal-driven?
- What is your greatest achievement to date?
- What do you consider to be your greatest strengths & weaknesses?
- How would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict?
- Give me an example of a time when you worked well as part of a team?
- By providing examples, convince me that you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and environments.
- Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty to get a job done.
- Describe some projects or ideas that were successful primarily because of your efforts.
- What 3 things would you change about yourself?
- Why do you want to work for us? Why should we hire you?
STAR METHOD
It is very easy to give a long rambling answer to a competency-based question if you are not well prepared. The ‘STAR’ method can be a very useful way of structuring your preparation for a competency-based interview to keep your answers concise.
Provide an overview of the Situation; describe the Tasks involved; talk about the Actions involved; what Results directly followed because of your action.
Best of luck with your job search!
For a confidential discussion on our current opportunities, get in touch with Glen:
Glen Scheiner
Talent Consultant
Project Lead (NIBRT)
01 2234387
