1. WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING PREPARATION PROGRAM
Winning Job Applications Seminar #2
Web version
BUSINESS AND LAW
Centre for Work Integrated Learning
24 March 2009

2. WINNING JOB APPLICATIONS TODAY’S AGENDA
Announcements
Employer’s Perspective: “Winning Job Applications”
Guest Speaker from Dept of Treasury & Finance
Your Next Step

3. Announcements Employers visiting Footscray Park Campus:
“Up Close With Your Future Boss”
CAREERS INFORMATION SESSIONS
THURSDAY 2 APRIL, 11AM-12 NOON
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)   
VENUE
Footscray Park, Building A, Level 3, Room 315
WIN AN APPLE iPHONE
To be eligible to win, you must register and attend at least one of these scheduled Careers Information Sessions.
The winner will be advised via and sms.
See:

4. Announcement Virtual Careers Fair 23 March - 9 April 2009
Go to … What happens at the VCF?
The VCF is like a 'traditional' careers fair, but it operates in the virtual environment and can therefore take full advantage of web-based benefits:
The Fair will be accessible 24/7 from 23 March - 9 April.
The Fair will be in 'preview' state from 23 March.
Active phase Fair with CareerChat sessions take place - from 30 March.
The site will remain open in a passive state for a three-month period after 9 April.
For … live career chats, job search info, employer profiles, interview games, pod casts …

5. Events Industry Seminar 31st March From 1. 15-3
Events Industry Seminar 31st March From Venue tba THEME Challenges for the events industry – Current and Future
Speakers
Russ Tyrie – Melbourne Motor Show
Brett Hollis – Big Sticks Adventures and more …
To be part of the lunch and have the opportunity to network with our speakers you need to send in a question that you would ask one of the speakers about the events industry
Further details to come from Amanda

6. WINNING JOB APPLICATIONS
The Employers Perspective
Guest Speaker:
Naomi McQuaid
Graduate Program Manager
Accounting and Finance
Department of Treasury & Finance

7. Tips & tricks for resumes and written applications Naomi McQuaid - Victorian Government

8. What will we cover today?
Writing & tailoring your resume
Cover letters and written applications
Some other tips
Questions
“I wanted a career with a purpose. I felt that working for the VPS was a great way to contribute to the community.”

9. Use your resources Get to know the VU career staff
They are a great free resource for you to use
They can help you with your resume, cover letter, online application and interview skills
Use those you know who have been through a relevant recruitment process before to help you
Family
Family friends

10. Writing your resume Think about the different things you have done:
Education
Activities
Interests
Work experience
Honours and awards
Skills and Abilities
For each example, write details of what you did:

11. Writing your resume What did you do? What was the result? Details of
Key duties
Key achievements
Context of the work or achievement

12. Key areas to cover
Contact information
Education (VCE, university)
Part time work
Any professional work experience
Voluntary / charity / community work
Extra curricular activities eg sports or church
Other skills and abilities

13. Targeting your resume
It is important to tailor your resume for each specific role you apply for.
Look at the job requirements and identify how you meet these.
Include relevant details and examples in your resume – make it as obvious as possible!
Your resume is what gets you in the door.

14. Signs of a great resume Consistent, concise and clear
Uses dot points not long sentences
Covers relevant information and highlights results and outcomes
Attractively laid out with plenty of white space
Grammatically correct and thoroughly checked
Sells your achievements and unique skills

15. Writing your cover letter
Why are you suitable for the role?
What examples can you give?
What do you know about the organisation?
Include
The job title and reference number
Your address and contact details
The correct company & contact person’s details
Relevant details of your experience and skills

16. Signs of a great cover letter
Shows why you are interested in, and suitable for, the role and the organisation
No more than one page
Demonstrates that you have done some research
Attractively laid out with plenty of white space
Grammatically correct and thoroughly checked
Addressed to the right person!!

17. Writing written applications
Draft your answers first
Allow plenty of time to consult with others (friends, family, Careers & Employment)
Observe any word limits – what do they imply?
Identify what the questions are asking and make sure you are answering in this context:
Discuss / analyse / detail
Provide an overview / briefly describe
Think about the selection criteria for the role and make sure you include as many relevant examples as possible in your answers.

18. What are key selection criteria?
Identify the attributes, skills and experience required
Usually outlined in the position description or job ad
Help you to understand the job you are applying for
KSC vary among employers and jobs:
Public sector
Community sector
Private Sector

19. What are key selection criteria?
Based on key capabilities:
Problem solving skills
Team work skills
High level communication and inter-personal skills
Willingness to be flexible and adapt to change
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks
Proven ability to show initiative and leadership
Resilience - Perseveres to achieve goals

20. Basics of key selection criteria
Support your claims
Give concrete examples – specific examples or situations
Think broadly about your skills – different contexts
For the selection panel to assess you in the most positive light, it is important that you effectively highlight your knowledge, skills and experience directly against the selection criteria.
With often up to 100 – 200 applicants for a position, it is unlikely that the selection panel are likely to wade through your resume and covering letter trying to find the relevant information about you that relates to each criterion.
The onus is on you to summarise the relevant information about yourself and to present it in a form which is easily accessible to the panel.
This will assist the panel to rate your application against the selection criteria and against other applicants and decide who to shortlist for interview.
Many good applicants are overlooked because they don’t clearly address the selection criteria and assume that the panel will be able to read between the lines in their resume.

21. Making it work
Read and reread the advertisement, KSC and Position Description.
Highlight key words in the first KSC and think about what the employer is asking for
List examples of how you meet the KSC. Describe relevant skills, experience, incidents, training, personal qualities, expertise
Actual concrete examples of your experience are far more impressive than general statements such as "I have excellent interpersonal skills". It is more effective if you refer to situations where you obtained or successfully used the knowledge, skills or attributes.
If you do not have relevant work experience and cannot think of workplace examples, consider experiences from other settings like university, volunteering, community activities, clubs or societies that you have had involvement with.
You can refer to different kinds of settings to show an employer that, although you have acquired the relevant skills in a different setting, you still have the experience and potential to use them effectively in the position for which you are applying.

22. Making it work Address each criterion separately:
Listing each criterion in the same order as the selection criteria form, copy and paste the criteria into your document and make them bold
Under each heading write one or two short paragraphs outlining how you meet that particular criterion.
Open with a clear statement
Expand and provide evidence to substantiate your skills and experience

23. Using the STAR approach
Situation – provide a brief outline of the situation or setting
Task – outline what you did
Approach or action – outline how you did it
Result – describe the outcomes

24. Example of using ‘STAR’
Situation – member of Melbourne Uni Chocolate Appreciation Society
Task – promote member events
Action – developed posters, newsletters and created bulletin for members
Result – high level of awareness and participation rate

25. Putting it together
‘I possess strong written communication skills which I have employed in a variety of ways. Reports, written training materials, guidelines and promotional materials have been forms of written documentation I have regularly prepared.
In addition to extensive complex reports and written projects required as part of my studies, I have played an active role preparing written materials as a member of the Melbourne Uni Chocolate Appreciation Society. In order to promote events for members, I have developed a range of promotional materials including newsletters, bulletins and information posters. These have been well-received, promoting a high level of awareness and attendance at events.’

26. Summary
Written applications are a ‘make or break’ component of the selection process for many positions
Take time to ensure you understand what is sought for each individual role
Include relevant information and highlight results and outcomes
Make sure everything is grammatically correct and thoroughly checked
Sell your achievements and unique skills
Substantiate your responses using the STAR technique

27. Tips for online applications
Do your research & tailor your application to the organisation
Proofread & use your spell check – get a friend to read over what you’ve written
Draft your answers off-line before submitting your application – allow time to re-draft and consult with others
Complete the entire application form
Let us know if you are having system issues
Don't leave it until the last day to apply!

28. Find success. Make a difference.
Questions………..
Find success. Make a difference.

29. Resume Preparation
You should begin working on your resume over the mid semester break.
Your ‘draft’ WIL resume should be ready to bring to a WIL
Winning Resumes Workshop
to be held after the mid-Semester break (week comm. 20 April)
Work Integrated Learning RESUMES DUE 8 May.
Details to follow to your student .

30. YOUR NEXT STEP Next Seminar:` The Truth About Interviews
Tuesday 31 March, 1pm G370
MID SEMESTER BREAK Work on your resume
Then: Winning Resumes – Workshop
Commencing 20 April
Sign up sheets will be available at the Centre or by phone next week. 30

31. YOUR NEXT STEP Initial communications will be via your Student Email
Activities to follow include industry specific seminars
and meetings, resume reviews, EXPOS etc

32. Contact Details Centre For Work Integrated Learning Business and Law
PHONE
FAX
WEB