1. Career Pathways Seminars Building Blocks for Career Advancement www.amavic.com.au

2. © AMA Victoria 2008 Open Doors with your CV & Cover Letter

3. Objectives  Cover Letter & CV  Interviews ◦ Pre-Employment Screening: National Assessment Authority ◦ Prepare you & increase your comfort level ◦ What Not to Do !

4. The Application Process There are a number of entry points depending on how you are entering the process  Start the Oversees Trained Doctors (OTD) registration and appropriate process prior to applying for jobs  Get your application in on time  Address the required application process  Address the selection criteria

5. World of RWAV OTD Applications RWAV (Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria) administer Area of Need OTD Applications and receive approximately:  400 applications per year  with 30 applications progressing to placement

6. What do they look for?  This scheme aims to attract OTDs with post graduate GP qualifications or recognised GP experience (of at least five years) to work in areas of greatest need in rural Victoria.  You must be eligible for registration in the state of Victoria

7. Cover Letters & CV ’ s How important are cover letters and CV ’ s? VERY IMPORTANT!  Providing an investment in your future opportunities within Australia  Having a fundamental effect on placements and/or positions offered

8. Cover Letters  More than just a ‘ cover ’ letter  The first impression you make  Your chance to ensure your application doesn ’ t go to the bottom of that pile

9. Cover Letter – What should it do?  Address the job you are applying for in the subject line  Address the name of the person  Be accurately and carefully constructed Pay attention to detail (especially spelling and grammar)  Care & Attention Required

10. Cover Letter - Your Opportunity  To stand out from crowd  To attract the readers attention & keep them reading!  To let the reader know you have made an effort to understand their organisation  To get you to the next stage in the process – your CV!

11.  Don ’ t mix up your agencies (PMCV/AMC/RWAV), hospitals & health services  Don ’ t ramble, be structured and NOT TOO LONG  Don ’ t restate information that appears in your CV  Don ’ t use complicated fonts  Don ’ t send it with spelling errors  Don ’ t send it with mistakes in health service name or what that health service does  Don ’ t make generalised statements that could apply to all health services/hospitals.  Tailor to your audience. Cover Letter – What Not to Do!

12. Cover Letter - Structure Clear Informative Concise Keep it to one page

13. Cover Letter - Content  Outline the type of position you are seeking?  What is your motivation for seeking a career in Australia?  What particular skills & attributes you would bring?  What distinguishes you from other potential applicants?  Outline your long-term professional goals & plans

14. Lack of Care & Attention … what are the Consequences?  You go to bottom of a very big pile!  What does it say about you?  Will you lack care & attention at work  Will you lack care & attention to patients  Does the Australian Health system want doctors who don ’ t pay care & attention?  How will you be perceived?

15. Your CV - An Important Investment  Opportunity to sell yourself  Your skills & qualities  Your academic & clinical achievements  Special achievements  Community/voluntary activities  Project a well rounded, mature person, able to handle a career in medicine within Australia  Set yourself apart from the crowd  Create a good impression prior to interview

16. CV - Structure  2 – 3 pages in total  Photo (not always essential but again makes an impression)  Name & contact details  Chronological order  Employment  Education (certified copies provided on request)  Specific requirements for Australia (certified copy of ELTs)  Conferences  Presentations  Referees

17. CV – Lay Out  Consistent font throughout  Consistent use of:  Headings  Bullets  Page Margins

18. CV – Do include:  Research activities  Other life pursuits  Volunteer & Community works  Significant achievements BUT DON ’ T OVER DO IT!

19.  Academic/professional snapshot  Personal snapshot ◦ Show how well rounded you are ◦ An provides an indication of your ability to make the transition This may be what distinguishes you from the rest CV – A snapshot of Who You Are

20. CV – Gaps in Training If there are gaps in the chronological order, provide reasons  Travel  Health  Other Studies  Family commitments

21. CV – Check it  Check spelling  get someone to proof read it, critique it  Read it aloud  Pay care & attention to the detail  Don ’ t miss the little words ‘ to ’ and ‘ of ’  Review how it appears online as well as on paper

22. Referees  Check individual agency requirements  Contact your nominated referees prior to including their details  Ensure chosen referees can answer all the questions on any potential assessment form  If an online notification system, check your referees received this.

23. Referees  Clinical ◦ Ensure correct status/ title and contact details of referee ◦ Ensure referee can answer ALL the questions on any referee assessment form  Non – Clinical ◦ A character reference ◦ Evidence that you are ready to make the transition

24. CV – What Not to Do!  Don ’ t send with errors in spelling & grammar  Don ’ t go crazy with fancy fonts or colours  Don ’ t use a wacky email address sexypixie666@....  Don ’ t send copies of all your qualifications / documents with your CV (except ELTs). You will be asked for these at a later stage.

25. When listing your experiences  Include type of hospital/ position and details of rotation eg: General Medical Rotation  Don ’ t list the obvious:  Exception – extra special placements & electives CV – What Not to Do!

26. Interviews – The Facts  Yes, they can be awkward  All employees go through them  Your will almost certainly by interviewed by a person with a human resource background, if not they have a lot of experience (Remember RWAV = 150/year).  Preparation will make all the difference

27. Interviews – Self Awareness  Body language  Remember to smile  Eye contact  Sit forward in your chair

28. Interviews - Preparation  What career opportunities are you exploring & why?  Clearly articulate your career goals  Articulate why you want to work in a particular role/health service  Be specific  Visit websites to research opportunities available through the particular agency and demonstrate understanding of the required processes  Speak to other IMGs in roles similar to those you are seeking (Australian Overseas Trained Doctors Association)

29. Behavioural Interviews What are they?  Asking applicants to give specific examples of when they have demonstrated particular behaviour or skills

30. Behavioural Interviews Why?  Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour  Behaviour tends to be linked with competencies

31. Behavioural Interview  Example Questions ◦ Tell me about a time when you.... ◦ Describe a circumstance when you were faced with a problem related to.... ◦ Think about an instance in which you....  Probing questions ◦ How exactly did you do that? ◦ Tell me exactly what steps you took to resolve that ◦ What was the basis for that decision

32. Behavioural Interviews  A strong answer outlines: ◦ The context in which events took place ◦ The action taken in the situation ◦ The result or outcome of these actions ◦ Review of the situation and what you may do differently if faced with a similar experience again

33. How to Prepare  Remind yourself of a range of experiences you can talk about  Make sure you don ’ t refer to the same experience in order to answer all questions  Draw on your work & life experiences  Part time, voluntary, professional  University, academic & extra-curricular involvement  Other life experiences where you have developed the sought after skills and experiences required  Review your CV to answer questions specific to those experiences listed

34. Interviews - Punctuality  Know where to go  Allow for traffic  Allow for parking – health services and other agencies are notoriously hard to park around  Ring ◦ Keep the contact number with you at all times ◦ If you are going to be late, give ETA, even if by minutes ◦ Provide an explanation

35. Interviews - Presentation  Make an effort in your appearance  Always were a suit  Well groomed  Ironed shirt If you turn up scruffy & dirty what impression are you giving

36. Interview Tips Why are you seeking to pursue a career in medicine in Australia?  Don ’ t generalise  Be specific  Understand this is the most appropriate pathway for you  Access to a particular field of medicine eg Specialist Pathway  Show you have really thought about why you want to be here!

37. What to Do?  Stay calm  Be professional  Show that you are ready to take the next step towards a Career in medicine within Australia  Take certified copies of key documents with you.

38. Interviews – What Not to Do  Don ’ t be late  Don ’ t generalise  Don ’ t try to bluff your way through answers – if you don ’ t know just say so  Don ’ t name drop  Don ’ t try too hard to IMPRESS  Don ’ t leave your mobile telephone on and if you do … Don ’ t answer it!

39. Enjoy the Journey

40. Summary  Care & Attention  Investment  Research  You have come this far and your future deserves your best efforts

41. Thank you