1. CV & Interview preparation Belvedere College SJ

2. Structure of session Introductions Job hunting - Where should I start looking? What are employers looking for? Top ten global Career skills How to create a winning CV and cover letter. CV preparation First impressions The Interview STAR technique for effective responses Role play - STAR technique practise Q&A

3. How do people find jobs?

4. How people find jobs (From HSE 2010 )

5. What skills do employers value most?

6. What are the top 10 skills employers want? 1.Speaking 2.Team Membership 3.Business Awareness 4.Problem Solving 5.Initiative 6.Achievement Motivation - Drive 7.Written Communication 8.Planning 9.Adaptability 10.Time Management

7. Where to start? Cover letter CV

8. Cover Letter Address “Dear Sir/Madam” Brief & concise Make key points clearly: – What YOU want – Why you are suitable – Use key terms from the job description – Refer to attached c.v. Spelling / grammar errors unforgiveable. Check, check and double check!

9. C.V. – The Content Personal Profile Education & Qualifications Work History Interests Achievements References

10. Curriculum Vitae This is their first experience of YOU It is your first opportunity to differentiate yourself Spelling & grammar – get it right! Use easy to read layout & format Avoid long-winded paragraphs

11. Tailor your CV A chronological CV highlights your work history, and is probably the most common of all CV formats. This CV is mainly used when you have no major time gaps in your work history and have few employment changes. New college graduates will often have very little relevant work experience to highlight in their CV. Focus on this type of CV should be given to relevant college placements and technical skills acquired during the course of your qualification. Jobseekers at senior level will often have a number of years’ experience behind them, so it may not be possible to describe in detail each position held. CVs for senior candidates will outline key achievements as the main content, and then describe the day-to-day activities of positions held in chronological format. http://www.collinsmcnicholas.ie/jobseekers/cvs/cv-templates/

14. Interview Purpose Business meeting with both parties having an agenda. Two-way conversation - both parties are evaluating each other.

15. Interview Purpose….. Suitability for JobPersonality TrustworthyConfident Information from CV CharacterOpinionResponsible ReliableAppearance

16. Interview Preparation Believe in yourself Confidence Do your homework Make a good first impression Body Language Sounding Positive The Interview is a 2 way process

17. At the Interview – Deportment / Appearance Eye contact! Smile Confident handshake Be presentable and neat. Neutral is good. Flashy can distract from YOU. If wearing a tie, close top button Be confident, but not arrogant. Relax and try to be yourself.

18. Types of Interview One to One Interview Panel Interview Telephone Interview Group Interview Video Interview 18

19. Interview Stages Welcome Stage The Acquiring Information Stage Supplying of Information Stage Parting/Closure Stage

20. Types of Interview Format Competency Based Interview (Probing for information to understand candidate – Career skills) Chronological Interview (Takes lead from CV/Application Form) Case Study Interview (Present case study, what action to take,/work out solution) Technical Interview (Questions about technical work; final year projects/research etc)

21. What types of questions are asked at interviews? Introductory Questions Tell me about yourself ?Why do you want this job? Why you left your last job?What is your understanding…? QualificationsSituation – Scenario Previous Experience Why should we hire you? Skills / StrengthsWeaknesses Hobbies / InterestsFuture plans References Do you have any questions? 21

22. Interview Questions Categories  Self  Education/Training  Work  The Job  All emphasis your Skills (Personal, Practical)  Knowledge, Experience & Personal Traits

23. The Interview Don’t let your c.v. do the work – introduce all the positives again You will have prepared clear, informative answers to the questions you are likely to be asked. Each answer is an opportunity to tell the interviewer something YOU want to say ‘Yes’ & ‘no’ are generally not adequate answers.

24. CV & Interview Preparation Group Exercise Think Like an Employer What Skills are Required? Legal secretary Shop manager Bank employee Teacher

25. The Star Approach Often interview questions tend to start with a variation of, "Tell me about a time when…" This may sound simple but, in the heat of the interview, it's easy to give an unstructured answer, miss out key details, or let the story peter to a halt. One way of avoiding this is by using the Star acronym to structure your response

26. S ituation The interviewer wants you to present a recent challenge and situation in which you found yourself. T ask What did you have to achieve? The interviewer will be looking to see what you were trying to achieve from the situation. A ction What did you do? The interviewer will be looking for information on what you did, why you did it and what the alternatives were. R esult What was the outcome of your actions? What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your objectives? What did you learn from this experience and have you used this learning since?

27. Star Interview technique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOKQGzNQfdU&feature=youtu.be

28. At the End You should have a couple of well thought out questions. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity State again how much you want to get the role Stand up, head up, smile, firm handshake.

29. CV & Interview Preparation Useful Websites www.irishjobs.iewww.recruitireland.ie www.monster.iewww.worky.ie www.bestjobs.iewww.loadzajobs.ie www.employireland.iewww.gumtree.ie www.jobs.iewww.munsterjobs.ie www.computerjobs.iewww.fas.ie Networking websites; www.linkedin.com www.facebook.com www.myspace.com