Title of presentation MasterClass: Applying for Graduate Name of presenter Employment Title of presenter School / Faculty / Division 20 February 2014 xx Month 201x Career Development Centre La Trobe University latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M MasterClass: Applying for Graduate Employment Workshop Overview • Introduction to and researching graduate programs & graduate positions • Resumes • Online applications & responding to behavioural questions • Interviews • Graduate Employers Panel, Interview Activity, Q & A • Psychometric testing and assessment centres • Networking • Attending employer events Click to edit Master text styles 2 Introduction to Graduate Programs What are graduate programs? • Structured professional development programs designed specifically for new or recent graduates. • Generally range in length from 1 – 3 years. • May include rotational or fixed roles. • Typically commence after completing final year of study. • Aim to develop professional skills and abilities of new graduates to suit the particular needs of that organisation. Source: Graduate Careers Australia Click to edit Master text styles 4 Eligibility for graduate programs • Applications are open to final year undergraduate students. • Some organisations are looking for specific disciplines, while others recruit from a range of disciplines. • Some organisations require that applicants are Australian citizens and/or have permanent residency. Source: Graduate Careers Australia Click to edit Master text styles 5 Typical application timeline* February – March Applications open March – early-April Applications close March Selection process May Job offer Early 2015 Positions commence Click to edit Master text styles 6 Typical selection process* Online application Psychometric Testing Phone Screening Assessment Centre Face to Face Interview Reference and Probity Checks Click to edit Master text styles 7 Researching Graduate Programs Who offers graduate programs? Click to edit Master text styles 9 Researching graduate programs www.graduateopportunities.com www.unigrad.com.au http://au.gradconnection.com http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/136 Click to edit Master text styles 10 Graduate program info and resources Click to edit Master text styles 11 Resumes Your Resume needs to give employers... clear evidence of the qualifications, skills, experience and qualities you have that match their specific job and workplace / organisation requirements. Click to edit Master text styles 13 How? 1. Keep it simple • Make sure the first page includes all key information. • Try and keep it from being too long – 3 pages at most. 2. Pay attention to layout and presentation • Keep the layout clear, simple and uncluttered. • Use clear headings and make use of dot points where you can. • Include page numbers. • Proof-read it! Click to edit Master text styles 14 How? 3. Include relevant information • Limit content to relevant information. • Organise information so it’s easy to follow. Present information in reverse chronological order, listing the current or most recent activity first. • Highlight your key skills and provide clear evidence of these (and qualities) you claim to have. • Adapt your resume for each job application so it accurately reflects the key skills, and other requirements, of the job you are applying for. • Use key words that reflect essential aspects of the position description and organisation. Click to edit Master text styles 15 Your Resume is a marketing tool but... will anyone read through it? Only if it looks professional, clear, relevant and easy to follow. Use and demonstrate your skills in... paying attention to detail. Click to edit Master text styles 16 Your Resume is a marketing tool but... will it get you an interview? Only if it clearly demonstrates the specific skills, knowledge and personal characteristics that the position requires and the organisation is looking for. Use and demonstrate your skills in... researching, assembling and presenting relevant information. Click to edit Master text styles 17 Research and think about what employers want. • Interpersonal & communication skills (written and oral) • Passion/ knowledge of industry • High calibre academic results • Work experience • Teamwork skills • Leadership skills Selected requirements from 2012 Graduate Outlook Employer Survey http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/research/surveys/graduateoutlooksurvey/ Click to edit Master text styles 18 Use your Resume to show employers you have what they want. Interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral) quality of your resume, studies, activities, communication with employer Passion/ knowledge of industry studies, professional development, prof. memberships, practical experience Calibre of academic results - special achievements and awards at uni Work experience relevant employment, internships, volunteering, p/t work Teamwork skills - p/t work, uni projects, sports, clubs and societies Leadership skills - p/t work , mentoring, positions of responsibility Click to edit Master text styles 19 Communicate your selling points in your Resume • Career Objective • Achievements • Skills (industry specific + transferable) • Awareness of, and participation in, the relevant discipline/industry/profession • Qualities that match the needs of specific graduate jobs and employers Click to edit Master text styles 20 Career Objective – what can you offer and where are you going? • specific & targeted • demonstrates your motivation and awareness of the different sectors of industry • not vague or general EXAMPLE I am seeking a graduate role in government where I can contribute my research and analytical skills to the development of policies in youth justice and community engagement. Click to edit Master text styles 21 Achievements – what makes you stand out? What extra value or potential do you have from... • holding positions of responsibility • increasing sales figures • running a project to change something in your university, community, company • winning an award or prize • achieving good results in exams or assessments • gaining additional qualifications • receiving customer service / quality awards • managing achievements outside of your studies or workplace, such as raising money for charity, being elected to a committee • achieving as an individual or in group sports • being awarded a promotion • working as part of a team that… Click to edit Master text styles 22 Provide evidence of your achievements • Detail your achievements in different sections of your resume (e.g. education, employment) or create a single list of examples. • When and how did you positively affect a project, a community, an organisation, the bottom line, your boss, your co-workers, your clients? • What awards, commendations, publications, etc., have you achieved that relate to your career objective? Click to edit Master text styles 23 Show your awareness of, and participation in, the relevant discipline/industry/profession • Student placements or internships • Volunteer work • Paid work • Active membership of professional association/s • Extra-curricular activities Click to edit Master text styles 24 Skills–what can you do for an employer? • Don’t assume that anyone reading your Resume will know what skills you have gained through your degree, placements, parttime work etc. • Including details of your skills or competencies in your resume increases your chance of being offered an interview by 30% (Bright and Earl, 2007). • Assess and know your own skills and strengths. Make them clear. Click to edit Master text styles 25 Make it easy for the employer to see that you have relevant industry and transferable skills. • Include key skills words from the position description / duty statement in your resume to connect what you can do with what they want. • You can include a separate skills section, with sub-headings for the skills that you want to highlight and examples of what you’ve done. • Use action verbs to show what you can do e.g. research, manage, plan, create, analyse, install. • Provide evidence of where and how you’ve applied specific skills. Click to edit Master text styles 26 Example Organisational Skills • Planned and coordinated training sessions for the Eltham Junior Basketball Team for 3 years • Planned, managed and filled fortnightly rosters for up to 12 staff at the Toys ‘R’Us Brunswick store for 18 months including two peak Christmas periods. Click to edit Master text styles 27 Remember... 1. Tailor your resume for each job and every application. 2. Do your research. 3. Identify and communicate your skills using action verbs. 4. Use key words that show you match the requirements of the job, and the needs and interests of the organisation. 5. Get input from others – online career resources, a skilled proof-reader, La Trobe University Resume Booth. It’s not a lottery – you can take action and optimise your chances. Click to edit Master text styles 28 Online Applications Online application forms • 77% of employers have an online application process. • Designed for you to provide evidence that you have the skills and attributes matching the selection criteria. • The selection process has started – applications will be either shortlisted or rejected • Filling out application forms can be time consuming - allow at least 1-2 hours per application. Source: Unigrad 2012 Click to edit Master text styles 30 Tips for online applications • Diarise the application closing date and submit your application well before then. • Allow plenty of time to complete the application form. • Read and follow the employer’s instructions!! • Stick to word limits!!! • Proof-read for spelling, grammar and punctuation. • Ensure your documentation is of a professional standard. • Save files in a version that anyone can open. • Keep a copy of your submitted application. Click to edit Master text styles 31 Strategies to succeed Research the position (what questions are likely to be asked?) the organisation (what attitudes & skills are valued?) your background (what evidence can you provide?) ̶ your motivation, experiences, skills Communication summarise your key selling points keep it simple and structured Click to edit Master text styles 32 Online Application Questions •Closed questions •Requiring right/wrong or yes/no answers •More common in assessment tasks, exams, tests •Open general questions •Behavioural questions Click to edit Master text styles 33 Typical questions relating to your goals, career objective, knowledge of company • What’s the achievement you’re proudest of? • What are your strengths and weaknesses? • What four words best describe you? • What appeals to you about our firm and why you would like to work here? • Why are you interested in joining our graduate program? • What are your long term aspirations? • Please describe what interests you about a career in ...... Click to edit Master text styles 34 Sample Online Questions Question Why do you want to work for the Victorian Public Service as opposed to other graduate opportunities? What do you feel you could contribute to the work done by the Victorian Public Service? Please limit your response to 250 words or less. Information that exceeds these limits will not be considered. (42 words in the question) Click to edit Master text styles 35 Developing answers to open general questions Demonstrate self-awareness on main issues • your skills and qualities, both personal and professional • how you chose this career pathway • motivation: why working in this industry and occupation is important to you • what makes you passionate about your work in general and this job in particular Link your own story to the industry and the organisation • use your research – what skills & capabilities are valued for this position, by the organisation, and by the industry? • based on this, identify your key selling points for this position Click to edit Master text styles 36 Behavioural Questions Types of questions: behavioural questions Behavioural/Competency-Based Questions • Used at application and interview stages • Companies identify the competencies required to do the job – these form the basis of the questions • “We can predict future performance from past behaviour” • You are asked to discuss concrete EXAMPLES from your own experiences to prove you possess the required competencies Cues: • “Can you tell me about a time when….?” • “Can you give us an example of a time when…….?” Click to edit Master text styles 38 Example Questions Communication “Can you give us an example of a time when you had to deliver a difficult message to an individual or team?” Teamwork “Can you give me an example of a time when you have been part of a successful team?” Click to edit Master text styles 39 Sample Online Questions Question Please provide an example of a time when you had to work as part of a team to accomplish an objective. Describe the task, what your role in the team was, and what outcomes the team achieved. Please limit your response to 250 words or less. Information that exceeds these limits will not be considered. (46 words in the question) Click to edit Master text styles 40 Tips for answering behavioural questions • Don’t provide general statements such as “I have extremely well developed communication skills” without backing it up with evidence. • Provide real examples from your studies, work, and extracurricular activities that are relevant and specific. • Include an indicator of success or the result. • Try to use examples from different areas of your life – study, employment, extra-curricular. • Adhere to word limits. • Don’t exaggerate or apologise. Click to edit Master text styles 41 Structure your response in a four-step process: S T A R S ituation – What was the situation/context T ask – What was the task/event you encountered A ction – Describe the action you took R esult – What was the outcome Use specific examples - ideally within past 1-2 years, from your studies, placements, employment, voluntary activities. Click to edit Master text styles 42 Situation Describe the situation / environment you were in Include context, details and time. Task What did you need to accomplish to deal with the situation? What was your role concerning the problem, issue or assignment? Action What did you do? Set out the steps you took to resolve the situation Provide detail – how you listened to the unhappy customer. What strategy did you use to manage your time? How did you influence your team? Result What happened? What did you accomplish? What did you learn? Promote yourself and your achievements Click to edit Master text styles 43 Example Can you tell us about a time you have demonstrated excellent organisational skills? (i) I have developed excellent organisational skills through my parttime job as an event assistant at XYZ Events. In this role I am responsible for booking staff to set up marquees at private functions. To perform this job I need to identify all jobs booked for that day, calculate how many staff are needed to set up each event, and ensure that there is sufficient time to set up each event by the time required. Click to edit Master text styles 44 Example - action Excellent organisational skills (ii) Last month I discovered that one of the sales staff had booked an event, but forgot to enter the booking into the system. As I had already created the schedule for the event staff to follow, it was too late to make changes. I quickly made some phone calls to other event staff not rostered on for the day and found two people who were able to come to work immediately. I then arranged for a spare truck to be loaded with the marquees, so that when the event staff arrived, they were able to deliver the marquee to the customer immediately. Click to edit Master text styles 45 Example - result Excellent organisational skills (iii) The result was that the marquee was set up in time, thus avoiding a major disruption to the customers’ event. My supervisor was very impressed with the work that I did to resolve the issue and started giving me tasks where I could use my initiative and work more independently. Click to edit Master text styles 46 Building up your own examples to answer behavioural questions Selection Criteria Example – Uni studies Example – course placement, internship Example employment Example – voluntary, extra-curricular Communication Teamwork Problem Solving Planning & Organising Initiative Self-management Click to edit Master text styles 47 Interviews Why an interview? The employer’s objective is to attract and appoint the best candidate for the job. An interview is used to find out: • Can you do the job? Do you have the skills, knowledge and experience appropriate for the role? • Will you do the job? What’s your motivation? Are you enthusiastic about the position and the organisation? • Will you fit in? Do you fit into the team, within the organisation’s culture and workplace environment? Click to edit Master text styles 49 Phone screening • Many organisations conduct a brief phone interview early in the selection process. • This can happen when you least expect it. If the timing is inconvenient let them know when would be more suitable. Click to edit Master text styles 50 Tips for phone interviews • Treat a phone interview as seriously as a face to face interview. • Have your resume and application handy but don’t be distracted by them. • Ensure your phone is fully charged and that you have good reception. • Answer your phone in a professional manner. • Take the call in quiet place, free from interruptions. • Speak clearly and smile. • Ensure that your voicemail message is professional. • At the end, thank the interviewer for their time. Click to edit Master text styles 51 Example open and behavioural interview questions Open questions Why are you interested in this graduate program? Qantas What do you know about our business? PricewaterhouseCoopers What would you do differently if you were given the opportunity? Schweppes Australia Behavioural questions Give me an example of a time when you used good judgement and logic in solving a problem. St George Bank Tell me about a time when you saw an opportunity and drove it forward? How did you spot the opportunity? Victorian Public Service Tell me about a time when you lead the team to a positive result? Telstra Click to edit Master text styles 52 Example Technical questions Questions may relate to the content of the job, a case study, a clinical scenario (e.g. for health science) or current trends within the industry. Can you explain what a public good is, why the government may provide public good and give an example? Economist stream, Victorian Public Service What do you consider to be the essential elements of an effective classroom management plan, particularly when working with a new group? Victorian Department of Education How has online media affected the way we consume technology? Telstra Click to edit Master text styles 53 Preparing for behavioural interview questions • • • • • • Review the selection criteria and think of questions related to each competency or skill. Prepare specific examples from a range of recent experiences. Use STAR approach. Practice responding to questions out loud. Make it clear what you specifically did if you worked in a team. Describe the Situation and Task concisely so you can focus on your Action and the Result. Be prepared for negative questions Tell me about a time when you were part of a team that did not accomplish all of its goals. (NAB) Click to edit Master text styles 54 Strategies to succeed at interview Research and prepare • The position and the organisation • Know yourself – your motivation, experiences, skills etc. (What can you offer? ) Prior to the Interview • Organise your dress, journey and ensure your phone is off. During the Interview • Build rapport using interpersonal skills (eye contact, smile, firm handshake..) • Communicate clearly – keep it to the point, structured and balanced between not talking too little/ too much. • Try to relax Click to edit Master text styles 55 Additional interview resources • http://career-ready.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/ • Attend an interview workshop – dates on Career Hub • Book a practice interview with a Careers Consultant http://www.seek.com.au/jobs-resources/interview-questions • http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/intervw.htm • Youtube employer channels for interview tips e.g. http://www.youtube.com/user/accentureuscareers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blJwjfDqcvA Click to edit Master text styles 56 Panel Graduate Employers Panellists Andrew Williams Manager, Graduate Recruitment and Development Scheme State Services Authority Maree Schipano Graduate Program Manager Australia Post Heidi van Wyngaarden Scientific Consultant Kelly Scientific Resources Click to edit Master text styles 58 Interview Activity Choose one of the following interview questions to practise with another student: • What do you believe is a key characteristic or experience that sets you apart from other candidates? • Can you tell me about a time when you were “thrown in the deep end”? What steps did you take to cope with the situation? • At times, we identify opportunities to do things better, even if that is not a role requirement. Please tell me about a time when you found a better way to do things. (Follow up questions > How did you identify the opportunity? With whom did you communicate? How could the change benefit your team or organisation?) Click to edit Master text styles 59 Psychometric Testing What are psychometric tests? • A series of questions which aim to objectively measure attributes like intelligence, aptitude and personality. • Can be used to assess ability as well as potential. • Administered online or using paper and pencil under standardised conditions. Click to edit Master text styles 61 Types of psychometric tests Two most commonly used psychometric tests for recruitment are: Personality Ability & Inventories Aptitude Tests Psychometric Tests Click to edit Master text styles 62 Why employers use psychometric tests • An employer utilises psychometric tests with the aim of gathering information from a candidate to build a profile of their abilities, personality and motivation to help them to assess and predict: The candidate’s capability and suitability for the demands of a particular job The candidate’s capability and suitability for the organisation. • Approximately 70% of large Australian firms use psychometric testing as part of their recruitment process Click to edit Master text styles 63 Personality inventories • Focus is on preferred ways of behaving in situations within an occupational context (e.g. how you relate to others, your problem solving style etc). • Personality is measured using a self-report questionnaire. Asks you about aspects of your own personality. • Typical format forces you to choose between two or more options or use rating scales. Responses are used to develop a profile. • Think about a typical day in a work context. • There are no right or wrong answers. Usually untimed. • Personality inventories are able to detect if you are portraying yourself to create a very favourable impression. Click to edit Master text styles 64 Ability and aptitude tests • Measure intellectual abilities as well as potential to learn and understand new information in a limited timeframe. • Measure skills and abilities relevant to a position. • May simulate elements of a task to assess your ability to perform that task. • Typically cover a broad ability area (e.g. Numerical reasoning), not knowledge (e.g. algebra). • There are right and wrong answers. • Administered under timed, exam conditions. • Questions become more complex as the test progresses. • Designed so that very few will be able to complete all questions. Click to edit Master text styles 65 Types of ability and aptitude tests Many different types of ability and aptitude tests including: • Verbal reasoning*, Verbal critical reasoning* • Numerical reasoning*, Numerical critical reasoning * • Abstract reasoning* (also called conceptual reasoning) • Spatial ability • Diagrammatic reasoning • Mechanical reasoning • Perceptual ability • Technical (e.g. fault diagnosis ) • * Tests most likely to encounter Click to edit Master text styles 66 Sample verbal reasoning questions Spelling Which of the following words is incorrectly spelt? (a)Persistant (b) Separate (c) Success (d) Receive Verbal analogies Letter is to word as sentence is to: (a) Verb (b) Paragraph Click to edit Master text styles (c) Phrase (d) Book 67 Preparing for psychometric tests Find out from the employer relevant information such as: • What sort of tests they conduct? • What do the tests measure? • How long will the tests go for? • Can you use a calculator in numerical tests? • Best preparation is to take practice tests to familiarise yourself with the types of questions asked and the logic used. • With online testing, try to undertake your testing when most alert (mornings usually). Complete tests in a quiet place. • If completing multiple tests, take a break between them. Click to edit Master text styles 68 Tips for during the test • Listen to and read all instructions - note the time limit. • Read each question carefully before answering. • Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand the instructions. • Use many of the same strategies as you would for an exam (e.g. don’t spend too long on any one question etc) • Try not to compare yourself to others and how they are progressing. Click to edit Master text styles 69 Assessment Centres What are assessment centres? • A standardised evaluation of behaviour based on input from multiple assessors and multiple techniques (including simulations). • Purpose – To predict performance on the job based on a candidate’s performance during simulations and other exercises. • Highly structured • More reliable method of selecting candidates • Can last from half a day to three days. • Commonly used by large companies. Click to edit Master text styles Source: DDI 71 What do they measure and what are typical activities? Example of how an employer is assessing key skills with various activities: Skills Activities Ability to work in a team Individual Presentation Communication Problem solving task Problem solving Group exercise Analytical skills Psychometric tests Customer focus Interview Interpersonal skills Ability to influence others Click to edit Master text styles 72 What to expect on the day • May begin with employer welcome and briefing with information about the company and role. • Several candidates will be present. • Some activities will be in a group setting involving other candidates, other exercises will be on your own. • There will typically be multiple trained observers or assessors, evaluating you against multiple competencies in multiple exercises. • Your behaviour will be observed throughout the entire day. Click to edit Master text styles 73 Tips for the group task • Read the written instructions fully and carefully. • Ensure you contribute to the group. • Make your contributions relevant and useful • Speak confidently and clearly. • Demonstrate listening skills. • Always have the desired goal in mind – watch the time. • Be mindful of your body language (eye contact, voice tone etc). • Ensure you are a team player and include others. Click to edit Master text styles 74 Tips for during the assessment centre • Listen to and read all instructions carefully. • Don't make assumptions about the way in which you are expected to respond. Be yourself and respond honestly. • Be professional, friendly and respectful of ALL people you meet. • Avoid being either passive or aggressive. • Employers will be looking at you to see how you interact with others, during the activities and in the breaks. • Don't give up if you perform badly on one task. There will be other opportunities to demonstrate your skills. • Try not to compare yourself with others. • Show enthusiasm and be your best self! Click to edit Master text styles 75 Networking “Networking: the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.” Source: Merriam Webster Dictionary Click to edit Master text styles 77 Why network? • develop two-way, mutually beneficial relationships • find out about your industry and learn from other people • share your knowledge and skills • work collaboratively towards common aims • be aware of opportunities for career advancement • stay in touch with the right people to get “things done”. • communicate your strengths Click to edit Master text styles 78 With whom? People with shared professional interests... • family • friends, or friends-of-friends • at uni • in professional associations • in your industry or allied professions • in organisations you might volunteer with or work for Click to edit Master text styles 79 How to network Networking is a skill. • Actively listen and observe. • Ask thoughtful, relevant questions and be interested in people’s responses. • Ask open-ended questions. • Be mindful of where you are and other people’s interests (and time). Click to edit Master text styles 80 Where? • Informal occasions in day-to-day life • Clubs and societies at uni • Professional events • Online • Employer events and expos Click to edit Master text styles 81 Networking Tips 1. Think ahead. What’s your aim? Who would like to meet? What do you want? Names, ideas, introductions? What can you do for others? 2. Get comfortable. Practice skills. Put yourself into environments you’re comfortable in as well as getting used to new settings (and people). 3. Go to the right places for your career objective or industry. 4. Follow up on the information and contacts you make. Click to edit Master text styles 82 Social networking Facebook • Will anything be embarrassing if seen by an employer? • Ensure privacy settings keep employers separated from friends LinkedIn • Best for professional networking • Upload your resume • Have a professional summary and photo • Keep up to date with referees and ex-colleagues Click to edit Master text styles 83 Click to edit Master text styles 84 How to use LinkedIn • Add people that you meet including recruiters at the Expo • Join a special interest group related to your field • Contribute to conversations in the interest groups • Update your status regularly “seeking opportunities in...” • Use the resume builder • Ask former colleagues and employers to complete a recommendation on your account • Follow up your contacts regularly, use the in-built email or go directly through their email address Click to edit Master text styles 85 Use social networking for research • Use Linked in and other sites to gain further info on graduate opportunities , employer expectations and company culture • Forums can be a good source of info on what to expect from those who have been through the process o e.g. whirlpool, gradconnection, wikijob etc. Click to edit Master text styles 86 Gradconnection – employer forum sessions Click to edit Master text styles 87 whirlpool – posts by Ericsson’s Click to edit Master text styles 88 Click to edit Master text styles 89 Click to edit Master text styles 90 If you want a professional job, behave professionally whenever you network, wherever it happens. Click to edit Master text styles 91 Attending Employer Events Preparing to attend employer events • Research the organisations before attending and find out which are hiring graduates from your discipline. • Make a list of organisations you want to talk to. • Prepare questions to ask employers you are targeting. • Bring your résumé, a notepad and pen, and a card with your contact details to give to potential employers. • Have an opening line you can use when introducing yourself to employers. • Have a neat and tidy appearance. Click to edit Master text styles 93 Develop your elevator pitch A brief summary that introduces who you are, your interests, skills and experiences, and states what you are seeking “Hi, my name is ... I have recently graduated from La Trobe University with a health science degree majoring in public health. I’m really interested in Indigenous healthcare, especially in children living in urban environments. I am interested in the research work your department has undertaken in this area especially relating to ...” Click to edit Master text styles 94 Develop your elevator pitch - Activity Action: Take 5 minutes to draft out your elevator pitch What do you want to say about yourself? • qualification/s and experience • work competencies and personal qualities • interest in the position, the organisation and industry • current situation and availability to commence work Click to edit Master text styles 95 Networking at Expos • Be proactive and approach employers • Introduce yourself using your elevator pitch • Firm handshake, maintain eye contact • Ask questions about the industry not just the recruitment process • Explain a little about you • Ask informed questions • Enthusiasm counts • Always be polite and friendly Click to edit Master text styles 96 Examples of questions that impressed employers • Will the … affect your graduate recruitment intake? • I researched … on your website and would like to know what you think it takes to make a successful…? • What qualities are you looking for in … role? • How does … differentiate itself from other organisations? • What are the challenges and rewards of working for …? • What is the most critical stage in the selection process? • What are the opportunities for training / career progression? • Why do you like about working for …? • What type of work will I be involved in as a graduate / what is a typical daily routine for a graduate? Click to edit Master text styles 97 And some that did not impress … • What does your organisation do? • Do you have a graduate program / graduate positions? • Why do you have to be an Australian citizen? • How much do I get paid / what is the starting salary? • Do I have to wear a uniform? • I have a major in … – would that do? • What happens if I lie on my application form? • Do I have to work 40 hours a week? • Will I like the job after I complete the training? • What are communication skills? Click to edit Master text styles 98 Source: careerone .com Ending a conversation “Thank you for your time / for speaking with me. I’ll let you talk to the other students waiting, and will submit my application soon.” “It’s been great speaking with you. I’ll send you a copy of my resume tomorrow. Do you have a business card?” “I can see that there are a number of students waiting to speak to you, so I’ll let you go. Do you have a business card I could have?” “I plan on circulating the room, but it’s been great meeting you. Do you have a card?” Click to edit Master text styles 99 Follow up If you don’t follow up, what was the point going to the event? Consider sending an email or message after the event: • Thank them for their time • A document or web link you discussed • Your resume if appropriate • Send an invite to join your LinkedIn network Click to edit Master text styles 100 2014 Graduate Recruitment Events Graduate Jobs Month 11 – 28 March Level 1, La Trobe University Library www.latrobe.edu.au/events/all/graduatejobs-month The Big Meet Monday 17 March, 11am – 3pm Victory Room at Ethihad Stadium www.thebigmeet.com.au/Melbourne CPA Australia Career Expo Thursday 27 March, 5:30pm – 8pm Palladium at Crown www.cpaaustralia.com.au/become-acpa/free-student-network/careerexpo/melbourne Engineering Careers Expo Thursday 26 March 12pm – 5pm Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre www.engineersaustralia.org.au/engineerin g-expo CA Employment Evening Thursday 13 March, 4:30pm – 7:15pm Grand Hyatt Society run cocktail events www.charteredaccountants.com.au/Students check relevant society Facebook sites /Whats-on/Event-listing/Vic/VicEmployment-Evening-2014.aspx Click to edit Master text styles 101 Click to edit Master text styles 102 Career Development Centre Student Enrichment Ground Floor, Peribolos East Click to edit Master text styles 103 Thank you Contact Us: Bundoora: Level 1, Peribolos East 9479 2459 www.latrobe.edu.au/students/careers careers@latrobe.edu.au @LTUcareers www.facebook.com/LaTrobeCareers latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M