The University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service
Science Applications and Interviews
You can download a copy of this presentation from
the Science Careers Employability Award on Moodle
Final Year Application Process
The smaller company process is much simpler and you can apply
much later (often after final exams) but salaries are usually lower and
they offer less training and less chance to specialise.
Employer Aptitude tests
• Normally done on line along with your
application
• Work quickly – not difficult but a lot of
questions in a short time
• Business maths – graphs, tables, rations,
percentages rather than geometry and
calculus!
• Practice makes perfect!
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm
EMPLOYER APTITUDE TESTS
Numerical Examples
Which is the missing number in the sequence?
2 ? 8 16
A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6 E. 7
? 14 12 11 11
A. 13 B. 15 C. 16 D. 17 E. 28
ANSWERS Q1.
4
Q2. 17
VERBAL REASONING
Cardiovascular disease is so prevalent that virtually all businesses
are likely to have employees who suffer from, or may develop, this
condition. Research shows that between 50-80% of all people who
suffer a heart attack are able to return to work. However, this may
not be possible if they have previously been involved in heavy
physical work. In such cases, it may be possible to move the
employee to lighter duties, with appropriate retraining where
necessary. Similarly, high-pressure, stressful work, even where it
does not involve physical activity, should also be avoided. Human
Resources managers should be aware of the implications of job roles
for employees with a cardiac condition.
A) The majority of people who have suffered a heart attack can later
return to work.
B) Heart disease can affect people of any age.
ANSWER TRUE, FALSE or CANNOT SAY
A) TRUE B) CANNOT SAY
SPATIAL OR DIAGRAMMATIC REASONING
Which is the next shape in the sequence: a, b, c, d or e?
1. d
2. b
Example Science CVs
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm
THE COVERING LETTER
First Paragraph
– State the job you’re applying for.
– Where you found out about it.
– When you're available to start
work (& end if it's a placement)
Second Paragraph
Third Paragraph
– Summarise your strengths
and how they might be an
advantage to the
organisation.
– Relate your skills to the job.
– Why your interested in that type Last Paragraph
of work
– Why the company attracts you (if
it's a small company say you
prefer to work for a small friendly
organisation!)
– Mention any dates that you
won't be available for
interview
– Thank the employer and say
you look forward to hearing
from them soon.
Competency Questions
 The hardest part of the form for most
applicants - asking for examples of
specific skills such as teamwork,
leadership, problem solving e.g.
• Describe how your personal planning
and organisation resulted in the
successful achievement of a personal
or group task.
• Give an example of where others have
disagreed with your views. How did
you deal with this?
• http://prezi.com/0yaknjsspdh/making-applications-usingthe-star-approach/
Telephone Interviews
• Increasingly common: save time and
money for both you and employer
• Typically last about half an hour – a bit
less than face to face interviews
• Often sifting interviews: just looking for
basic fit at this stage. Can he/she
communicate effectively? Have they done
some research?
• No eye contact, so can say “Would you like
me to continue”
• Can refer to notes/CV, even do the
interview in your pyjamas!
• Also Skype and robotic interviews
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivphone.htm
PREPARE ANSWERS TO OBVIOUS
QUESTIONS
• Why are you applying to us?
• Why have you chosen science?
• What makes you suitable for this job?
• What other jobs are you applying for?
• Why did you choose your degree course?
• What have you got out of University?
• What do you do in your spare time? What do you
get out of it?
Technical Questions
• Sometimes a funnelling technique is used, where
the questions start at a simple and broad level and
then gradually become more specific and detailed perhaps until they reach the point where you cannot
answer any further! For example:
• What is the structure and function of an antibody?
• How do you make antibodies?
• What are the disadvantages of an animal-originating
antibody?
• How can these be overcome?
(Biochemistry student applying for patent attorney
position)
CAREERS WEB SITE
• Applications and Interviews (includes aptitude
tests)
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm
• Practice Science Interview
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivscience.htm
• Employer numerical and verbal aptitude tests
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm
Assessment Centres
• Assessment Centres
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm#Selection
• Coping with group exercises
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/teamwork.htm
• Presentation skills
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/presentationskills.htm
Streamed videos
• On-line Applications
• Interviews
• Telephone interviews
• Assessment Centres
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntVid.htm
BRUCE WOODCOCK
• A careers adviser is on duty for short (15
minute) consultations in the Careers and
Employability Service any weekday
morning 10.30-12.30 or afternoon from
2 pm to 4 pm. You don't need an
appointment to see the duty adviser at
these times. Just ask at Careers
Reception to see them.
• Email: bw@kent.ac.uk
Moodle Careers Employability Award
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm
The University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service
Science Applications and Interviews
You can download a copy of this presentation from
the Science Careers Employability Award on Moodle
Bioscience Interview Questions
• What is the polymerase chain reaction?
• What do HIV, IgG, PEG2 stand for?
• What structure does NH2-CH2-COOH
belong to?
• Suggest a route to synthesise ethylene
glycol
• Technical questions about electron
microscopes, ice cores, ice conductivity.
• About my final year project (synthesis of
dendrivers)
• Revise your project and relevant topics
covered in your degree.
Research by forum3 found:
• The average graduate will send out 70 CVs when looking for
their first graduate job. The average number of responses is 7
including 4 rejections and the remainder inviting the graduate to
interview or further contact.
• The more CVs you send out the more interviews you get.
• Applicants who included a covering letter with their CV were
10% more likely to get a reply.
• Applicants sending CVs and letters without spelling mistakes
are 61% more likely to get a reply and 26% more likely to get an
interview. The most common mistakes not found in a spell
check were: fro instead of for, grate: great, liased: liaised,
stationary: stationery.
• Other turn-offs: misspelling the name of the company or the
addressee, not having a reply address on the CV and trying to be
amusing.
SCIENCE INTERVIEWS
• Interview may be “on
the hoof”
• Technical questions:
often on your project
– revise it carefully
How not to do it ….
– I enclose a tea-bag so you can enjoy a cuppa while perusing my
form
– Working on a farm has improved my communication skills which
are especially important when working with large livestock.
– Applying for job at biscuit company: my life-long love of
chocolate biscuits, is the main reason for my interest in the
company
– It's best for employers that I not work with people
– On an application for a position requiring considerable people
skills - My hobbies include watching television, computer chess,
stamp collecting and walking my 2 spaniels.
– Reason for leaving last job: my employers insisted that all
employees get to work by 9 am and I could not work under
those conditions.
– I am seeking challenges that test my mind and body, since the
two are usually inseparable.
– I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.
“Sell” your degree
• List relevant modules (plus marks if good!)
• Projects – especially if relevant
• Laboratory skills/IT skills
• Soft skills – evidence of teamwork, project
management, problem solving etc.
• For non-science jobs (e.g. banking) you
would need a different CV focusing on your
soft skills more than technical skills.
Why you need to use a spell checker
•
I am a prefectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.
•
Proven ability to track down and correct erors.
•
I have good writen comunication skills.
•
Lurnt Word Perfect computor and spreadsheet pogroms.
•
Develop an annual operating expense fudget…
And why you must read it carefully as well
•
Extra Circular Activities
•
At secondary school I was a prefix
•
In my spare time I enjoy hiding my horse
•
I hope to hear from you shorty
•
I am a conscious individual.
•
Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave
•
I have a desire to work with commuters
•
Dear Madman (instead of Madam)
•
I am sicking and entry-level position
Skills gained on a science
Degree
• Gather and analyse relevant information from a
wide variety of sources
• Identify and propose solutions to problems
• Project management
• Technical skills
• Work independently (individual projects)
• Communicate with others in a clear and
articulate manner
• Present ideas and arguments verbally in
presentations, seminars, and discussions
• Sell these on your CV and applications
EMAILING CVS
Many employers are happy to accept CVs as an
attachment to an email.
– Put your covering letter as the body of your email.
Format it as plain text (use the format heading on
Outlook Express to do this), so it can be read by any
email reader.
– Your CV is then sent as an attachment. Say you'll
send a printed CV if required.
– Email it back to yourself first to check it.
Competency Questions
Answers could come from
 vacation or part-time work;
 university societies;
 voluntary work;
 study at school or university –
especially projects;
 holidays and travel or personal and
family experiences. Planning and
organising a week’s independent travel
in Scotland is as valid an example as a
The STAR Approach
• Answer these questions via the STAR
approach - Situation, Task, Action and Result.
• Like a mini essay: The Situation and Task are
usually combined and form the introduction
• The Action you took, should form the main
part of your answer
• The Result should be your conclusion
The STAR Approach
 Situation Whilst employed at Weaver Bros. last summer
• Task I was given the task of rationalising the stock
control system
• Action I would look at factors such as when the stock
was last ordered, what it was used for and how often it
was used. I worked out a method of streamlining the
paperwork involved in this process and redesigned the
relevant forms, which I then submitted to my manager.
• Result My ideas were accepted and implemented and a
15% reduction in stock levels was achieved“
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm