CRICOS No. 00213J

QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

Effective Applications Resumes and Selection Criteria

Shari Walsh Postgraduate Career Counsellor

Goal Setting

Discuss

• What makes an effective application?

• What information is needed?

• How do you emphasise important information?

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CRICOS No. 00213J

QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT The Key to it all......KNOW YOUR SKILLS!

• • • Specialised Transferable Personal Qualities

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?

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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...

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Transferable Skills

Communication

– – – – – 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

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QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

Resumes

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

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

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Styles of Resume (Templates)

• Choose the layout and design

YOU

is no ‘correct’ style like – there CRICOS No. 00213J • • • •

Chronological (reverse – most recent first) Functional (grouped into categories) Combination Chronological/Functional Academic (longer includes more information than industry)

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

•

Academic vs Industry applications

Academic/research – Academic jargon – Research/academic skills • Theory development • • Research collaborations Unit co-ordination etc • Non-academic – Industry appropriate language – Employability skills • • • Critical thinking Integration/interpretation Data analysis CRICOS No. 00213J – Publications • Impact factor, ERA – Publications • Audience type – Grants • $$$$$ – Grants • Relevance

• • • • • • • • • •

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

Personal Details

 Name  Contact details  Nationality, date of birth, health, marital status/children, any other discriminatory information, all optional CRICOS No. 00213J  Photo

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

Education

• • How far back to go?

How much detail to go into? • • Academic transcripts Other educational achievements CRICOS No. 00213J

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....

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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 CRICOS No. 00213J

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

Interests/Hobbies

• Can add ‘colour’ and personality • What will an employer read into your interests?

• Level of involvement ‘I enjoy rugby ’ CRICOS No. 00213J

Referees

• • 3 ideally Should include PhD supervisor and direct work supervisor • Ask them first Or ‘Available on Request ’ CRICOS No. 00213J

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!

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Exercise

• In small groups hand round your Resume and note on each persons: CRICOS No. 00213J • • One thing you like (that you may not have thought of yourself) One thing you suggest changing and why • Feedback, Feedback, Feedback

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QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

Selection Criteria

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

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

Types of Selection Criteria

• Mandatory Requirements – – – – – Qualifications Membership with professional associations or registration boards Residency status Licences Level of experience CRICOS No. 00213J • Others – Desirable experience, knowledge, skills & abilities, personal qualities

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

The Magic Formula

S ituation T ask A

ction

R esult L or earning C ontext A

ction

R esult CRICOS No. 00213J

Example

Context

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 CRICOS No. 00213J

Activity - address an SC

S ituation T ask A ction R esult L or earning C ontext A

ction

R esult CRICOS No. 00213J

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QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

Thank You & Good Luck

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