JOB SEARCH TOOLKIT

(08) 93602596 | careers@murdoch.edu.au | careers.murdoch.edu.au

Page 1

CONTENTS HOW TO WRITE: RESUMES .................................................................................................................................. 2

RESUME CHECKLIST:............................................................................................................................................ 3

RESUME SAMPLE:................................................................................................................................................... 4

HOW TO WRITE: COVER LETTERS ................................................................................................................... 10

COVER LETTER FORMAT .................................................................................................................................... 12

ADDRESSING SELECTION CRITERIA............................................................................................................... 13

SAMPLE SELECTION CRITERIA RESPONSE ................................................................................................ 15

SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWS .................................................................................................................................. 16

HOW TO USE: LINKEDIN ....................................................................................................................................... 19

LIST OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS ....................................................................................................... 20

USEFUL LINKS ........................................................................................................................................................... 21

Additional Resources, details on Job Search Workshops / Presentations and Student /

Graduate opportunities in industry can be found on CareerConnect.

Register now:

www.careerconnect.murdoch.edu.au

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Murdoch University Careers Centre

Like us on Facebook: Murdoch University Careers Centre

Join our LinkedIn Group: Murdoch e-Mentoring Network

Connect with us online!

Page 2

HOW TO WRITE:

RESUMES Your resume is a marketing tool selling YOU! It should: - be concise, truthful and tailored to the job / industry you are interested in (i.e. includes keywords included in the job advert or language used in your chosen industry; - set you apart from other students / graduates with similar qualifications by highlighting your achievements and experiences (both paid and unpaid); and - project a friendly but professional tone leaving the reader wanting to move you to the next stage of the recruitment process.

There is no one way to write a resume but the following content, checklist and examples will help you

develop or edit your own to best promote yourself for the Australian job market.

RESUME CONTENT: NAME: State your full name clearly at the top of your resume. Use your preferred name if different to your

birth name (it is not a legal document).

CONTACT DETAILS: No heading required, just your address, mobile contact number, email address. Also

hyperlink your LinkedIn profile here so employers can find out more about you (and keep it up-to-date), if

you have one.

CAREER PROFILE / SUMMARY: Promote yourself! Market yourself! Endorse yourself! This is your chance

to clearly outline what you OFFER (NOT what you are looking for – it is not a Career Objective). Aim for 2-4

sentences in length (or dot points) and should include:

- your degree;

- any strength/skill areas;

- a key experience (if you have one); and

- motivation/passion/industry of interest.

RELEVANT SKILLS: Use 3-5 sub-headings to identify specific skills required for the job. List in order of

relevance to the job / industry and include both discipline specific and transferrable career skills. Provide

a brief example to evidence each skill or highlight your skills in your RELEVANT EXPERIENCE section.

EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS: List most recent first. Don’t abbreviate and include all

majors/minors. Include High School last, if completed up to 5 years ago, if beyond that maybe leave off.

For your most recent degree, list 2-3 units relevant to the job you are applying for (as well as grades if they

are strong) under “Areas of Competence” OR list your Grade Point Average (GPA) / Grade Average if high.

Add any academic achievements (awards/prizes/study abroad experiences). If you completed an unrelated

qualification more than 10 years ago, consider its relevance to the job you are applying for or if it helps to

evidence your skill-set and include it only if you think it adds value.

Page 3

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Include BOTH paid and unpaid experience here (most recent first) such as

vacation work, internships, industry related projects (e.g. Engineers without Borders). Under each include

any achievements or skills developed and limit list of duties for each to a max. of 5 dot points (employers

are not interested in a full job description).

OTHER EMPLOYMENT / EXPERIENCE: In a similar format to your relevant skills, this section lists details of

unrelated on-the-job experiences such as ‘Cashier’ at a supermarket. This experience is important to

mention as it demonstrates transferrable career skills such as interpersonal and team skills, but keep it

brief!

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS / MEMBERSHIPS: List relevant Student Societies (e.g. MESS) or Professional

Associations relevant to your Engineering degree. Joining a relevant professional association is highly

recommended (student membership if often cheaper than professional membership and sometimes free).

See page 20 for Engineering Professional Associations.

REFEREES: Make sure you request the permission of your chosen referees and let them know if you get

short-listed for a job interview. List their full name, job title, employer name, phone number and email

address. Include 2 - 3 referees (they can be Academic or Professional staff members at Murdoch and not

just employment contacts).

NOTE: If no particular job is advertised and you are just getting your resume out to potential employers

then state “Referees are available upon request” in this section.

RESUME CHECKLIST: Dos

Use keywords found in the job advert (i.e. relevant skills and/or language of the employer), but do it naturally, so that it makes sense.

Keep it short (1-2 pages for inexperienced students and up to 3 pages if you have 10 years + previous work history). Tip: using the full page and narrowing the margins can help reduce pages.

Use a standard, freely available font throughout and go for 10 – 12 point in size.

Keep format simple and consistent, making sure dot points and indents line up. Use short statements or bullet points (avoid lengthy paragraphs) and include “action” words when listing job duties / responsibilities.

Get permission from your referees to include them and keep them up to date if you get shortlisted for an interview for advertised jobs.

Include residency/citizen status if it is a job requirement or you think there may be any reason to doubt your ability to work in Australia.

Read your resume aloud to yourself and ask someone you trust to read it for feedback. Don’ts

Don’t include borders, tables, boxes, pictures and graphics in case Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software is used to “pre-filter” your resume to reduce numbers. These features can accidently filter out your resume before it is viewed by employers or recruiters.

Make sure there are NO spelling or grammatical errors – double-check your document. Don’t include date of birth, marital status, religion, health, children, or student temporary visa details.

Page 4

RESUME SAMPLE: Do not copy

William Spencer ___________________________________________________________________________________________

1 South St Murdoch W.A. 6150 I Mob: 0457 457 356 I Email: name@server.com.au I LinkedIn Profile (hyperlink) A third year Industrial Computer Systems / Instrumentation and Control Engineering student with strengths in ?? Previous research project experience through Engineers without Borders. Also recently completed formal vacation work with the Department of Transport W.A. . Keen to further develop in the areas of ??? and enhance my Engineering competencies within the ?? field/industry (NOTE: relate “??” to the job vacancy advertised / employer) EDUCATION & ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor of Engineering, Industrial Computer Systems and Instrumentation & Control double major

(graduating with Honours end of 20???)

Murdoch University

Areas of Competence:

PLC Systems – High Distinction Instrument and Communication Systems – Distinction

Control Systems and Process Dynamics - Distinction Engineering Finance, Management and Law - Distinction

Engineering Research Skills – Distinction Advanced Process Engineering – High Distinction

SKILLS Computer System Analysis - Well developed computer system analysis skills demonstrated through recent vacation

work with the Department of Transport W.A. detailed below under Relevant Experience.

Communication Skills - High standard of technical report writing skills evidenced by my current Distinction average at

Murdoch University. Additional business writing skills and writing for the web, though Engineering Student Society

committee role, including the management of web/social media presence. Also able to communicate effectively with

those from various cultural backgrounds through my involvement as a Peer Tutor at university.

IT Skills – MAT LAB, SIMULINK, LAB VIEW and a proficient user of the Microsoft Office suite.

?? (add 1- 2 more skills relevant to the job advertised / industry and include an example/evidence).

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE 20?? Vacation Employment Program (6 week summer placement) The W.A. Dept. of Transport A contributing member of the rail system team, working with the Engineering Project Manager and technical support personnel to refine and upgrade the computer automation system for the metropolitan rail network. Achievement: Rated by Supervisor as technically innovative, a collaborative team member and having developed good system analysis skills in relation to rail transportation systems. 20?? Humanitarian Engineering Research Program (team project)

Page 5

Undertook a student group research project to scope possible solutions to resolve barriers to the expansion of

network-portable access in remote and rural areas within South East Asia.

Achievement: attained a High Distinction for the practical project unit. OTHER EXPERIENCE 20?? – 20?? Peer Tutor Murdoch University PROFESSIONAL AFFILITATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) - Student Member MESS (Murdoch Engineering Student Society) – Committee Member REFEREES Dr Barry Brown

Senior Lecturer

School of ?

Murdoch University

Tel: (08) 9360 3456

Email: b.brown@murdoch.edu.au

David Smith

Senior Project Engineer

Dept. of Transport W.A.

Tel: (08) 6588 3444

Email: d.smith@transport.gov.au

Page 6

Resume Sample: Do not copy

Kriss Gainsborough

Mobile: 0438 915 321 Email : Kgainsb@yahoo.com

Postal Address: 15 Kallir Way, Gosnells WA-6110 LinkedIn Profile (hyperlink)

CAREER PROFILE

Final year Instrumentation-Control and Industrial Computer Systems Engineering student. Practical and applied experiences through projects in the design and implementation of: traffic light system; pilot plant controller design and robotic hand controller. Vacation work placement with Newcrest reviewing design documentation and drawings, providing feedback and observations to senior engineers regarding flow and sizing design. Recognised as a friendly team worker who communicates easily and supports others to complete tasks on time with high-level safety awareness and technical acumen. Quick learner keen to take on new projects and further explore systems in the mining, oil and gas sector.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Aspen Plus

Easy soft (moeller)

Honeywell Experion PKS ICAP

Matlab & Simulink

Microsoft Office suite

Programming Allen Bradley PLC’s using Rockwell Automation’s RSLogix.

SCL Visual basic

Programming Motorola 68HC12 and PICAXE microcontrollers

Programming National Instruments DAQ cards and Remote I/O devices using Labview

Technical report writing (see experience)

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Engineering ( Honours) Instrumentation-Control and Industrial Computer Systems Engineering Murdoch University, Perth Western Australia (20?? -Current)

PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN

TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM A fully functional Traffic Light system was designed and implemented using a basic Moller PLC. The system incorporated high traffic and low traffic timing abilities and also night sensors for side roads.

Page 7

GANTRY CRANE PROJECT

The Gantry Crane project included a small size Gantry Crane with its inputs and outputs wired to a Seimens PLC. The project was successfully completed with all the components including the starting sequences and the desired rearranging task fulfilled.

ROBOTIC HAND

A Robotic Hand was programmed using Motorola 68HC12 microcontroller by wiring its inputs and outputs to the microcontroller board to achieve the desired task. The project involved digital interfacing including pulse width modulation to control speed of motors.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Newcrest Mining 6 weeks Dec 14-Jan15 Graduate Vacation Program Responsibilities included reviewing design documentation and drawings about flow and sizing design, understanding and developing safer work practices, develop observations regarding design of production. Achievement:

Produced a technical report to the engineering team regarding flow and sizing requirements for a real-life project and gained positive feedback about suggestions and recommendations.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Mc Donald’s Australia Casual/Part-time (2007 to present) Crew Member (counter service) Current role includes working collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, customer service, stock control.

Achievement:

Awarded as “Crew member of the month” for excellence in customer service and teamwork.

MEMBERSHIPS

Student Member of Engineers Australia (EA)

Member of Murdoch University Student Society (MESS) – actively participate in supporting other students to engage in events such as Career’s Fairs, Mentoring and Industry visits.

REFEREES

Available on request

Page 8

Resume Sample: Do not copy

JAMES CHARLES KOENIG

50 Westringia Close, Canning Vale WA 6155 Mob: 0409 123 457 Email: james.koenig@gmail.com LinkedIn Profile (hyperlink)

PROFILE SUMMARY

A proactive and high achieving Engineering Student with previous experience in finance and two consecutive summer internships with Verve Energy. An effective communicator and team worker skilled at making complex technical issues easy to understand to wide audience, keen to offer alternative perspectives to improve efficiencies and reduce environmental impact. A quick learner I enjoy working with professional engineers on technical and design issues. Passionate about all areas of power generation, with a particular interest in renewable technologies.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Engineering expected completion 20?? Murdoch University

Majors: Electrical Power Engineering -Renewable Energy Engineering

Awards:

Vice Chancellors Commendation for Academic Excellence’ (20??, 20??)

Diploma of Business Challenger TAFE 20??

SKILLS SUMMARY

Computer Skills: Proficient in:

PowerFactory, WaSP, WindFarmer, Matlab, Simulink, Labview, Microsoft Office Suite

Communication Skills:

Effectively engage first year Engineering student in tutorial work and facilitate conversations to create a positive learning environment as a class Tutor. Students regularly attend classes and provided positive feedback of their experiences.

Proactively developed and maintained relationships with 50 to 300 internal and external customers in the banking and corporate sector.

Business and report writing skills, developed through regular business correspondence and weekly financial

reports to corporate customers. Trained Westpac staff in the use of computer software at branch level.

Team / Leadership Skills:

Provided support to Senior Engineers at Kwinana Power Station via review of design of new equipment. Previously managed and developed the skill sets of Westpac branch staff through setting of annual

development plans and engaging staff in the process.

Page 9

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Verve Energy Dec 20??- Feb 20??

Student Engineer, Kwinana Power Station, Kwinana (Summer 2012-2013) Support senior engineers working on electrical systems, equipment and facilities.

Key Achievement:

Reviewed design and development of new equipment as part of the upgrade to Kwinana Power Station, reported and delivered key findings to senior engineers. Acknowledged for highlighting innovative solutions to efficiencies in design.

Murdoch University 20?? - current

Class Tutor (“ENG109: Programming for Scientists and Engineers”/”ENG125: Circuits & Systems I”/ ”ENG125: Circuits & Systems II”)

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Westpac Bank Apr 20?? – Jan 20??

Home Finance Manager (Subiaco) 2007-2010

Home Finance Manager (Northbridge) 2006-2007

Business Banking Manager (Perth) 2006

Branch Manager (Exmouth) 2004-2006

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Engineers Australia (Student Member) Murdoch Engineering Student Society (MESS) – Committee member 2012-2013

Assisted in organisation of annual careers fair where 20 exhibitors were present and 75% of our student society membership registered to attend.

REFEREES:

Referees available on request

Page 10

HOW TO WRITE:

COVER LETTERS A cover letter is usually the first thing an employer/recruiter will read. It is the formal introduction to your

application and needs to have impact. Expressing yourself enthusiastically, highlighting what you know

about the organisation/company and detailing how you would add value are key in making a good first

impression.

Start by researching the organisation and industry in which it operates and thoroughly analyse the job

advert (if there is one). This includes any selection criteria / key requirements and or the job description.

You then need to find out what the employer is looking for in the ideal candidate and customise or tailor

your cover letter, showcasing your capabilities to meet the employer’s needs. Your cover letter should:

express your motivation and excitement at the prospect of working for the organisation and/or

industry;

communicate that you have done your research and know the organisation – it’s core business,

new initiatives/projects and the values they consider important in employees, then relate back to

you to suggest you would fit in well with the team; and

highlight relevant attributes/personal qualities, knowledge, skills (and supporting experiences)

required to be a successful (tailor this to the job).

Make sure you know who to address your application to. If the job advert doesn’t mention who the

application should be sent to, do your best to find out – try to get a name and the position of the person

you are communicating with.

Avoid repeating too much information that is already detailed in your resume as your cover letter is really

your introduction to you as an individual highlighting the key points you want to communicate about

yourself with a clear orientation to the requirements of the advertised job.

Use dot points if there are a number of selection criteria / key requirements to address in the cover letter

(this is sometimes the case – follow all instructions carefully). See Addressing Selection Criteria for further

details.

Page 11

COVER LETTER CHECKLIST

Read all job application instructions carefully and follow them! (If a contact person is included in

the job advert, phone them up and ask more about the role and what they are specifically looking

for in the ideal candidate).

Use professional business format (left justified).

Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

Check the date is accurate.

Keep the letter to one page in length or to the length specified in the job advert (often it can be

longer when the Selection Criteria / Work Related Requirements need to be addressed within the

letter).

Use a standard font type / a size that is easy to read.

Do your research and find a person’s name and job title to write to.

Sign the letter “Yours Sincerely” or “Warm Regards” followed by your name.

Clearly identify the position you are applying for.

Be creative with the opening of each paragraph so that you are not always beginning with “I”.

Investigate the organisation – focus on their services, values and new initiatives / projects.

Research where they are within their industry and how you match the employer’s needs.

Be sure to address the skills and experience outlined in the job advert but don’t make any

unsupported statements about yourself.

Take the time and initiative to be creative and tailor or customise your cover letter to the job for

which you are applying for. A standard template will often be overlooked and is NOT

recommended.

Page 12

COVER LETTER FORMAT

Full name of person to whom letter is addressed (Mr/Ms/Mrs/Professor, XX)

(NOTE: You may need to do some research to get a contact name)

Job title

Organisation

Postal Address

Date (in full)

Dear Mr/ Ms/Dr/Prof.

Re: Position title and quote reference number if there is one (in bold)

Paragraph 1: Why are you writing? How did you find out about the position? If an unsolicited letter (no

job advert), what kind of position you are seeking and why?

Paragraph 2: Why are you interested in the advertised job or the organisation? What attracts you to

the job role or working for that particular organisation? Research what the organisation does / its values

/ special projects / new initiatives etc. and describe how the opportunity appeals or suits you.

E.g. Organisation X values: Performance, Willingness to have a go, Being open and authentic, Having a

hunger for growth, Embracing Differences and Safety – relate these back to you.

Paragraph 3: How do you match the requirements of the job - skills, education, personal qualities /

attributes, knowledge and experience? Highlight any relevant successes or experiences that may set you

apart from other candidates or students. Try not to make any unsubstantiated claims i.e. provide

concrete evidence and examples where you can.

E.g. Organisation Y is looking for -

People who demonstrate integrity, respect, and team skills.

People with energy, enthusiasm, and the courage to lead.

People who build relationships based on doing the right thing.

NOTE: You may be required to address specific Selection Criteria / Work Related Requirements in this

section. List each one separately and see Addressing Selection Criteria below for further details.

Paragraph 4: Mention you would be appreciative for the opportunity to discuss your application further.

If applying for an advertised vacancy, clarify how you can be contacted for further information (include

your contact number / email address). If you are submitting an unsolicited letter (no job advertised),

specify a time period when you will follow up (say 1-2 weeks).

Close with “Yours sincerely” or “Warm regards”

Your first and last name

Page 13

ADDRESSING

SELECTION CRITERIA Selection criteria or key requirements are typically requested by employers to ensure applicants have the

qualifications, skills, attributes and knowledge required to be successful in the job role. Not all job adverts

will clearly outline the selection criteria, so it may be necessary to analyse the advert in more detail to

identify exactly what the employer is looking for – focusing on key words.

Addressing selection criteria is the most important aspect of your application. Your ability to successfully

identify, understand and respond in full to each criterion will affect your chances of being short listed for

an interview. In addition, well-structured answers to the selection criteria will be beneficial should you be

invited to attend an interview, as questions asked from the interviewer/s are often based around the

selection criteria.

The task of addressing selection criteria can often seem daunting or overwhelming and very time

consuming. However, it is important to respect the process and put the effort in. If you miss this step (and

it is a requirement), employers have every right to disregard your application entirely. However once you

have done it for one job, you can use similar content for future applications.

There are several components to keep in mind when addressing the selection criteria, outlined below.

Read the instructions carefully and set out your replies as instructed in the documentation

provided.

o Some job adverts ask you to address the selection criteria within your Cover Letter or

separately (FOLLOW ALL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS – IT IS IMPORTANT TO RESPECT THE

PROCESS TO ENSURE YOUR APPLICATION IS CONSIDERED).

o Address each criterion separately. To ensure clarity on which criterion you are answering, it

is a good idea to write the criterion (word for word) at the top of each response.

o If the advert asks for a cover letter of no more than two pages (for example), including how

you meet the selection criteria, ensure you are able to address each criterion within the

space limitations provided.

o Some job adverts may list essential criteria and desirable criteria. Whilst the essential

criteria are the core competencies the employer is looking for, the desirable criteria are just

that – desirable. It is important to address BOTH the essential and the desirable criteria as

applicants who successfully answer ALL the criteria will usually be preferred over those who

focus only on the essential criteria, if the competition is tough.

When addressing the selection criteria remember the following:

Page 14

o When asked to “Demonstrate” a skill or attribute, you need to provide evidence using

detailed examples from your studies and other experiences such as relevant volunteer work,

community activities, work history, involvement with university clubs etc. Vague or

unsubstantiated answers will not convince an employer you have the skills and attributes

they are looking for.

o Select a range of experiences to promote your skills and attributes - use recent examples

from a number of different settings. NOTE: They all don’t have to be positive experiences,

you may want to highlight what you learnt from something you found difficult.

o When outlining specific examples to demonstrate your skills and attributes, use the STAR

method:

SITUATION – Provide a brief outline of the setting (e.g. at University, part-time work-place)

TASK – Outline what you did or the challenge you faced

ACTION – Describe (using Action words) how you went about completing the task

RESULT – What was the result? How was it measured/acknowledged? What did you learn from

the experience or do differently next time?

o Use “I” instead of “we” when providing evidence, even if the example refers to teamwork

(you need to explain what your role in the team involved).

o Use the right tense throughout the document for past and present experiences. E.g. “Last

semester I was involved in…” or “In my current casual job at Coles I need to ensure …”

o Assume the reader knows nothing about your experiences when describing them. If you use

acronyms in your examples, write them out in full the first time, then use the acronym

throughout the rest of your document e.g. Engineers Australia (EA).

o When “Knowledge of..” or Understanding of ..” is required, detail how or where you

acquired that knowledge and/or provide a link to show that you know where to access

relevant information (STAR is not required in these instances as you just state you have the

knowledge/understanding).

o Never leave a criterion blank or state that you don’t meet it (even if it is only “Desirable”). If

you feel you can’t provide an example or don’t have the experience, mention that you have

done something similar and explain that.

Examples of common transferrable skills and attributes employers look for in graduates;

Self-Management

Teamwork and Leadership potential

Digital Literacy / IT Proficiency

Critical / Creative Thinking and Problem Solving

Initiative / Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

Communication / Interpersonal

Learning and Applying Knowledge

Page 15

Planning and Organisation

Refer to the “Developing Skills: Increasing Employability and Career Success” resource document for

descriptions and how you can develop and evidence skills as a student.

SAMPLE SELECTION CRITERIA RESPONSE

DO NOT COPY. To be used for ideas to create your own.

Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member and the potential to lead work teams.

My ability to work effectively as a team member was evidenced on several occasions during my

Engineering degree. Several practical/simulated activities and project tasks were carried out in small

groups ranging from 2 – 4. Through this experience I observed the value of team members offering

different perspectives based on their diverse backgrounds and strengths. I ensured that while working in

groups, friction did not escalate and developed useful strategies to address this, such as active listening,

collaboration and inclusivity. I also led my example implementing the suggestions of others, while also

ensuring that I effectively communicated my own point of view in a respectful manner. I was awarded

either a “High Distinction” or “Distinction” for my practical group work assessment at university including:

?????

In addition to my studies, I was also selected to participate in a co-curricular Student Leadership Program

earlier this year (my final year). The program, known as the Murdoch Student Emerging Leaders (MSEL)

involved working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary student team (with three other Murdoch students)

over a four month period, delivering on a real-life project with a not-for-profit community organisation.

We undertook a project in consultation with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to promote awareness

and donations amongst the Murdoch student population. Through a number of on-campus initiatives

requiring a co-ordinated approach, our team increased donor registrations and general awareness

amongst the Murdoch community, exceeding the expectations of Red Cross staff. I was able to contribute

my project management skills and ability to effectively liaise with Murdoch University / Guild staff

members in a persuasive manner, resulting in a successful outcome.

Page 16

SUCCESSFUL

INTERVIEWS Interviews are a competitive business. If you have been shortlisted, congratulations on a well written application. The task now is to impress the employer face to face. Preparation is the key!

Interview settings can vary from the number of people on the panel to the circumstances in which an

interview is conducted, such as face to face, video/skype or over the phone. Typically, an interview

comprises of the following stages:

Introduction / Icebreakers

Evidence collecting - behavioural based questions, career oriented questions, self-awareness

questions

Interviewee questions – your opportunity to ask the employer questions – make sure you have

some questions ready

Interview outcome - the successful candidate is offered the position after referee checks.

REMEMBER: Employers are looking for specific Attributes/Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills

considered necessary or desirable for the advertised position/job role. Essentially they want to know:

Do you have the ability to do the job? (How suitable is your knowledge base and skill-set developed

through experiences)

How motivated are you to join the company/organisation? (passion, enthusiasm)

How well will you fit into their work environment? (cultural fit – attributes/values)

PREPARATION TIPS

Know the job: Re-read the job advert - focus on the skills required to perform the position well e.g.

analytical / problem solving skills, communication skills, teamwork. This will help you anticipate some

possible questions. Don’t underestimate what you have learnt as a student, part-time employee or

volunteer.

Know the employer: Research the organisation beyond their website - understanding the core business,

culture and values of the organisation will give you some ideas on how to promote yourself. Use LinkedIn,

google them, ask people you know who work or worked for them – any way you can.

Know yourself: Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, career aspirations etc.

Confirm the interview details and ask for the names of the interviewer(s) – this will make it easier to

remember names on the day. You could also view interviewers LinkedIn profile(s) to get some further

background information (if they have one).

Page 17

Practice your responses to possible questions – use a mirror, friend or family member, or a Career

Development Advisor (by appointment).

Prepare some insightful questions to ask your interviewers – this shows that you have thought about the

role and would like some more information. Some suggestions include: How will my performance be

measured? What sort of people really thrive in your organisation? What are the key challenges faced by

the successful candidate?

ON THE DAY

Plan your route and parking (if necessary) to arrive early. Remember to turn your phone to silent, take off

sunglasses and take some deep breaths whilst you wait. Self-talk strategies such as “I am just as qualified

for this job as other candidates” and “I am well prepared” can also be useful. Be nice to the receptionist or

anyone you encounter before the interview (you don’t know what influence they may have!)

Dress for success – clean, comfortable, neat and tidy with a professional/conservative appearance will

indicate that you are an organised person and keen for the position. Avoid too much jewellery,

perfume/aftershave and cover any ink!

Be aware of your body language

Smile often

Give a confident handshake and wait to be seated

Look the interviewer(s) in the eye when responding to questions. If there are multiple interviewers,

include them

Don’t slouch or fidget and keep your hands away from your face

Try to demonstrate confidence, knowing that you’ve already been selected as a strong candidate on

paper

Consider what you say

Speak clearly and be specific (look out for “umms” and colloquialisms/slang)

Be prepared to talk about your learning experiences from previous successes and failures – this

indicates your commitment to self-improvement

If you get stuck or freeze up, ask for the question to be repeated, or revisited later in the interview

– when answering, try to be direct or provide a response that reflects your ability to learn and

adapt quickly

Ask insightful questions to demonstrate that you have done your research and understand the

organisation

TYPICAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Interview questions can usually be identified as ‘Behavioural Based’, ‘Career Orientated’ or ‘Self

Awareness’ questions.

Page 18

Behavioural Based Questions – require you to provide examples of past behaviour with the aim of

predicting future behaviours. For example:

Tell me about a situation in which you had to deal with a difficult person. What did you do to

handle the issue and what was the result? (employer is looking for an example of your

interpersonal skills)

Describe a situation where you stepped up within a team in order to achieve results. What were

your actions? (employer is looking for an example of your team skills)

Tell me about a time you checked on the status of an important project, task or assignment and

discovered it was being done incorrectly. What did you do and what was the result? (employer is

looking for an example of your organisational skills or leadership potential)

It can be useful to adopt the “STAR” method when answering Behavioural Questions:

SITUATION - Offer background information to provide the context

TASK - Outline what was required of you / the challenge faced or task undertaken

ACTION - Describe the steps you took to handle the situation

RESULT – Explain what you achieved and how your actions affected the outcome of the situation.

Always be positive and describe what you learnt from the experience or what would you do differently

next time.

Career Orientated Questions – these are asking you to look to the future

What do you hope to achieve in your first year at our organisation?

Where do you see yourself in five years from now?

Describe your definition of success.

Why did you choose to study Engineering? / What was your favourite unit at University?

Self-Awareness Questions – these will get you to reflect upon your abilities and attributes as well as areas

for improvement

What is your greatest strength?

Describe a weakness in the way you operate and identify how you would go about changing this?

Why would we employ you over other graduates in your field?

FINAL TIPS

Follow up with a brief thank you email to the interviewer (or at least one of the interview panel),

highlighting your interest, adding anything you had forgotten to mention and thanking them again

for their time.

If unsuccessful, seek feedback on your performance post interview. Try to find out areas for

improvement.

Page 19

HOW TO USE: LINKEDIN

Get your Profile right BEFORE engaging with others or joining groups on LinkedIn

Include a quality photo (your profile will get more views with a photo) – include a single head shot with a

plain background, dress smartly and smile!

NO YES

Tailor your Profile Headline - AVOID using default Headline which uses most recent part-time job or student status (e.g. Student at Murdoch). Instead highlight your strengths/interests e.g. “Electrical / Renewable Engineering student with strengths in the design of clean energy sources.”

Summary Section - Develop a Professional Summary Statement or Career Profile. Be concise and confident about your career goals and qualifications. Make the first 300 words count as this is what readers see first. Briefly mention any volunteer work and other practical experiences. Present your summary statement in short blocks of text for easy reading. Dot points work well too. You can also upload videos, images, documents etc. that showcase examples of your professional competencies. Promote your Education – Include FULL name of your degree. Highlight areas of competence (but do not list ALL your units). Add any short courses or industry certifications. Mention any academic awards or publications. Experience section – Don’t forget to include related industry experience gained as a student (paid or unpaid). Be strategic with “Skills & Endorsements” – list skills relevant to your preferred industry. Additional Information - consider including a contact email address if you want to be easily contactable. What Next?

Change Privacy Settings - select what others see when you've viewed their profile (consider being “anonymous” – then you can research/search Job Titles etc.).

Update your profile regularly, be active on LinkedIn, follow companies, invite industry/university contacts to connect (with a personal note).

Include your LinkedIn profile link on your Resume (allows employers to read more about you if they wish, given a profile can be longer than a tailored resume).

Check out LinkedIn resources here: www.university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students.

“Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They're attached to people. A great reason to network”.

Reid Hoffman – Co-founder of LinkedIn

Page 20

LIST OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Note: Professional Associations offer discounted or free membership for

undergraduate students.

Engineers Australia

www.engineersaustralia.org.au

IET (The Institute of Engineering and Technology)

www.theiet.org

Institution of Chemical Engineers

www.icheme.org

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE)

www.ieee.org

The Minerals Institute: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

www.ausimm.com

Environmental Engineering Society

www.ees.ieaust.org.au

The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand

www.eianz.org

Professionals Australia

www.professionalsaustralia.org.au

Page 21

USEFUL LINKS

CareerConnect – Murdoch Careers and Employment Centre Jobs, Events and

Resources Portal

www.careerconnect.murdoch.edu.au

Graduate Opportunities – Jobs Directory

www.graduateopporunities.com

GradConnection –Jobs Directory

www.au.gradconnection.com

GradAustralia – Jobs Directory

www.gradaustralia.com.au

LinkedIn for Students – Resources

www.university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students

This document was developed, created and produced by the

team at the Murdoch Careers Centre.