Careers and Employability Centre

Making Successful Applications

• Understanding the recruitment process.

• How to be prepared!

• Gaining top tips on:• CV content and format• Covering letters• Application forms

Objectives for today

RESEARCH

What is the purpose of your application?

• Show how you meet the recruiter’s needs

• Show your potential• Get an interview

Aim of the recruitment process is to find the best talents in the job market.

The process varies between organisations.

Can include:

• Written application – CV and covering letter and/OR application form

• Interview – telephone, video, 1-to-1, panel interview

• Selection tests – psychometric, numerical, verbal, reasoning etc

• Assessment Centre – group activities, interviews, tests

The recruitment process

Preparation

• Be organised – keep a note of all your applications, deadlines, dates submitted etc.

• Research the organisation• Website “About Us” pages• Who are they? What do they do? What current issues

are they facing? Who are their competitors?

• Research the job• Job ad, website (Careers, Jobs pages), job description• What are they looking for? What responsibilities does

the job involve?

• Carefully read and follow the application instructions and guidelines

The key to success!

What are employers looking for? To write a focused CV or application form you need to know what the employer is looking for.

The skills you need to identify are in:• Job advertisement• Job description• Person specification• Other information about the organisation on their

website

Lloyds of London competencies

Graduate training programme: Golden Acre Dairy Foods

Opportunity:We are looking for one or more creative, talented and motivated individuals to join our team of food professionals to develop with us and help us achieve our ambitious targets. 

Our graduate scheme is designed to be slightly different from others. It offers you the chance to work and receive training in each of our departments over an 18 month period – operations, technical, accounts, marketing and commercial. This is so that you can gain an understanding of how the whole business works and see every aspect that goes into getting products onto shelves!

The ideal candidate:• Will have or be expecting to receive a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree • Can speak a second European language• Holds a full UK or EU driving licence• Will be ambitious, positive and self-motivated• Is able to work assertively and persuasively as an individual and as part of a team• Is numerate and has good attention to detail• Will be confident in bringing new ideas to the company and wants to make a difference• Enjoys food!

Graduate training programme: Golden Acre Dairy Foods

Opportunity:We are looking for one or more creative, talented and motivated individuals to join our team of food professionals to develop with us and help us achieve our ambitious targets. 

Our graduate scheme is designed to be slightly different from others. It offers you the chance to work and receive training in each of our departments over an 18 month period – operations, technical, accounts, marketing and commercial. This is so that you can gain an understanding of how the whole business works and see every aspect that goes into getting products onto shelves!

The ideal candidate:• Will have or be expecting to receive a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree • Can speak a second European language• Holds a full UK or EU driving licence• Will be ambitious, positive and self-motivated• Is able to work assertively and persuasively as an individual and as part of a team• Is numerate and has good attention to detail• Will be confident in bringing new ideas to the company and wants to make a difference• Enjoys food!

CVs and covering letters

So what should your CV look like?

• Personal Details Name / Address / Contact Information

• Personal profile Where am I / Where am I going / What am I offering

• Education What, Where, When / Highlighting relevance

• Experience / Skills / Achievements / Abilities / Interests Relevant skills and achievements with examples

• Referees 1 Academic and 1 Work or Personal

MAXIMUM 2 sides A4Black text on white

Writing style and layout

Active language to highlight your SKILLS• Accurate grammar and spelling• Clarity• Logical order• Easy to read and not cramped• Bullet points, underlining, bold

Different types of CV

• Chronological / traditional

• Skills based / targeted / functional

• Creative

• Online

• Academic

Graduate job - chronological

Highlighting Skills on a Chronological CV

• Clear identification of skills

• Concise language• Bullet points • Active words

Graduate job – skills based

Academic CVExamples:• www.vitae.ac.uk• www.prospects.ac.uk

Focus on:

• Quality and quantity of your research

• Teaching experience

• Conferences presented / attended

• Contribution to the department / faculty

• Formal letter format

• Check your spelling and grammar

• If possible write to a named individual

• Include the position title and vacancy reference

• Close with:• ‘Yours Sincerely’ if you’ve

addressed an individual• ‘Yours faithfully’ if you’ve used:

‘Dear Sir/Madam’

Covering letters

Main letter content…….

Have a clear structure:

1.Introduction - What are you applying for?

2.Motivation - Why do you want to work for that organisation? Why this job role?

3.Skills - What key skills, with examples, have you got to match some of their key criteria?

4.Conclusion – Add another reason why you want this job and then that you look forward to hearing from them.

Covering letter content

Application forms

TOP TIPS Filling in application forms1.Give yourself plenty of time – check the deadline

2.Research the organization, their requirements, their values etc

3.Follow their tips for online applications

4.Read the application form carefully

5.Work in draft first

6.Complete all the sections

7.Check you have answered each question

8.Check for spelling and grammar – CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!!

9.Print out a copy – so you can review it before interview

Example online application

Answering questionsUse the STAR approach to structure your answers to questions.

You can use this to help you structure

answers in interviews too.

Using the STAR approachEXAMPLE: give an example of when you used good communication skills to resolve a difficult situation.

Situation:Throughout University I worked part-time as a waitress.

Task:On a particularly busy weekend we were short staffed an angry customer complained about the extended wait for their food.

You could also use this particular example for problem solving or using your initiative.

Action:I utilised effective communication to help resolve this issue. I first listened attentively to the customer and clarified the reason for his complaint to ensure I fully understood. I apologised and explained the reasons for the delay, that it was not usual to have to wait this long but that I would see what I could do. I then spoke to the kitchen staff to find out how long it would be before his order was ready and asked for the order to be prioritised. By explaining the situation to them, they were willing to prioritise it (something they would not usually do). I also asked for an estimate as to when it would be ready. I apologised again to the customer and gave him the estimated waiting time for his order.

Result:This resulted in the customer calming down, being satisfied with their food and returning to the restaurant on a regular basis.

Careers and Employability Support

• Short interview with a Careers Adviser• Mon – Fri: 11 – 5pm• Weekly careers workshops• Employer events• Vacancies for part time, work

experience, graduate jobs

www.sussex.ac.uk/careers