1. Effective Applications Resumes and Selection Criteria
Shari Walsh
Postgraduate Career Counsellor

2. Discuss What makes an effective application?
What information is needed?
How do you emphasise important information?

3. The Key to it all......KNOW YOUR SKILLS!
Specialised
Transferable
Personal Qualities

4. What are your skills? Using the worksheet Rate yourself for each skill
Circle those which you enjoy using
What evidence is there for your skills rating?

5. Your personal statement
Identify 3 skills or attributes.
What experience do you have?
How will you benefit the organisation?
I am... with... who will or who wants to...

6. Transferable Skills Communication Teamwork effective writing
effective speaking
listening
languages
computing
Managing & Organising
organising
working independently
achieving outcomes
Teamwork
cooperating
motivating others
Problem solving
identifying/analysing
applying knowledge
researching
decision making
follow through
seeing the ‘big picture’
appreciating values/ethics

7. Resumes

8. Something to think about
A Resume is more than just a document
A Resume is
A paper representation of you - your skills, your values, your strengths
A living document – evolving and changing
An opportunity to help another person understand you

9. What to expect – academic applications
Australia – Resume & Selection Criteria (almost exclusively) Referee reports
Singapore – resume only
Taiwan – CV & referees reports (direct)
UK – varies
Cover Letter, CV, plus supporting documentation
CV and Selection Criteria
USA – letter of interest & CV

10. Styles of Resume (Templates)
Choose the layout and design YOU like – there is no ‘correct’ style
Chronological (reverse – most recent first)
Functional (grouped into categories)
Combination Chronological/Functional
Academic (longer includes more information than industry)

11. Make it easy to read Highlight important information
Appropriate language
Bullet points
Borders, lines, white space
Minimum 11pt font
REMEMBER – your job is to help the reader understand whether or not you are the best person for the role

12. Academic vs Industry applications
Academic/research
Academic jargon
Research/academic skills
Theory development
Research collaborations
Unit co-ordination etc
Publications
Impact factor, ERA
Grants
$$$$$
Non-academic
Industry appropriate language
Employability skills
Critical thinking
Integration/interpretation
Data analysis
Publications
Audience type
Grants
Relevance

13. What areas should you include?
Personal details
Career objective/Skills Summary/Personal Profile etc
Education/Qualifications/Training
Research Statement/Teaching Philosophy (academic)
Employment/work history (paid and unpaid)
Achievements
General and specific skills
Interests/Hobbies
Publications/Conferences/Grants
Referees
PLUS ANY OTHER SECTIONS RELEVANT TO THE ROLE

14. Name Personal Details Contact details
Nationality, date of birth, health, marital status/children, any other discriminatory information, all optional
Photo

15. Personal statement/ career summary
Your chance to shine & grab their attention
Make it personal to you
Don’t copy nice sounding phrases
Use short sentences, specific and factual
Overview of previous and current history
Area of interest or future career goal
3 – 4 skills or strengths

16. Education How far back to go? How much detail to go into?
Academic transcripts
Other educational achievements

17. Your research statement
What was your primary research question?
What was the outcome/ is expected?
What implications does this have for the ‘real’ world?
My research into.... found/is expected to find... This means....

18. Employment history/ work experience
Break into sections
career-related/ none career-related
Academic, research, professional
All jobs are valuable – what skills did you use?
Relevant experience is best
Include voluntary or community work
Role, dates, responsibilities, skills & achievements

19. Publications & Conference Presentations
BOLD your name in authorship listing
Group into sections
Most recent first
Cite as per discipline area
Full list?
Academic - usually
Industry – 3 most impactful – full list probably on a separate document) – refer to in resume

20. Interests/Hobbies Can add ‘colour’ and personality
What will an employer read into your interests?
Level of involvement
‘I enjoy rugby’

21. Referees
3 ideally
Should include PhD supervisor and direct work supervisor
Ask them first Or
‘Available on Request’

22. Do’s and Don’ts Spell check and proof read Well presented easy to read
4 - 5 pages maximum (esp industry!)
Matches their requirements with your skills
Lets your personality show though
Don’t get it done by a professional- should be in your own words
Don’t be dishonest!

23. Exercise
In small groups hand round your Resume and note on each persons:
One thing you like (that you may not have thought of yourself)
One thing you suggest changing and why
Feedback, Feedback, Feedback

24. Selection Criteria

25. Selection Criteria Basis for a panel to short-list for interview
Use key requirements of the position as outlined in the Position Description
Usually for Government / University…
Tries to bring equity to the process
A selection panel determines the standards for each criteria and applicants are ranked on these
Different levels
sound, excellent, highly developed, demonstrated
Interview questions will be based on the selection criteria

26. Identify the important information and make a link between you (Phd Scholar) and the role (professional)

27. Types of Selection Criteria
Mandatory Requirements
Qualifications
Membership with professional associations or registration boards
Residency status
Licences
Level of experience
Others
Desirable experience, knowledge, skills & abilities, personal qualities

28. Typical Lay Out & Length
Address each one under a separate heading – Don’t summarise criteria; write in full
Content for each SC (except Qualifications)
3/4 a page to a page for EACH criteria
Approx 300 Words for EACH criteria
1 per page vs ongoing document
Use a combination of narrative & bullet points where possible
Use highlighting where appropriate

29. Statement of claim New approach to SC
One document to address a group of SC
Still need to discuss each SC and present evidence
Highlight throughout the particular SC relevant to the experience you are describing

30. The Magic Formula S T A R L C ituation ask ction esult earning ontext

31. Example Context Action Result
A group of around 20 Postgraduate Students who wanted a workshop on Job Seeking Skills
Action
Spoke with staff, researched employers needs and sourced relevant information
Result
All students attended and verbal feedback indicated that content and style of workshop was both highly relevant and useful to them

32. Activity - address an SCL or C
ituation
ask
ction
esult
earning
ontext

33. Please Complete an evaluation sheet before leaving
Thank You & Good Luck
Please Complete an evaluation sheet before leaving