workshop about cv writing and job interview jan2016
TRANSCRIPT
Workshop about career skills:
CV writing and Job Interview
DR. PATRICIA FIDALGOJANUARY 2016
First things first
1. Graduation
2. CV writing 3. Job
Interview
What is a CV?
CV stands for Curricum VitaeCurriculum vitae is a Latin expression which can be loosely translated as [the] course of [my] life.
(Wikipedia, 2014)
Curriculum Vitae: marketing yourself
CV is “an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications. (…) It conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers.”
Basic principles for a good CV
The essentialsBe brief (1 or 2 pages are enough most of the
times). Don’t exceed 3 pagesDescribe first your best: “If your work
experience is limited, describe your education and training first” (Europass, 2014)
Highlight the skills that are important for the job you are applying (e.g. language skills, social skills, technical skills, etc.)
Clarity and conciseness
Language"Poor spelling is the quickest way of getting a
rejection” Corinne Mills, director of Personal Career Management
Beware of typos (are inadmissible)Use short and clear sentencesChoose your words deliberatelyUse grammar properlyGet straight to your point Proofreading
Formating
Straightforward font type (Arial, Calibri, Century Old Style, Garamond, Georgia, Times New Roman, Trebuchet MS)
Straightforward formatting – be consistente throughout the all document (use the same font type and syzes, and don’t abuse the use of colors) The font size should be between 10 and 12 points, although your name and the section headings can be a little larger and/or bolded.
Presentation
Your CV should be carefully and clearly laid out - not too cramped but not with large empty spaces either. Use bold and italic typefaces for headings and important information
Never back a CV - each page should be on a separate sheet of paper. It's a good idea to put your name in the footer area so that it appears on each sheet.
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv.htm#Tips
CV models: template provided by word
CV templates
CV models
http://www.totaljobs.com/
CV examples
http://www.about.com/careers/
Content information of the CV
Personal information
Education
…& Training
http://www.my-easy-resume.com/education-resume-writing.html
https://www.erowid.org/culture/characters/halpern_john/halpern_john_cv.shtml
Work Experience
www.dayjob.com
Personal Skills
www.dayjob.com
Professional Skills
www.dayjob.com
Additional information
Job InterviewYour appearance
It’s the first thing the interviewer will SEE
Types of job interviewsOne on One interview
A typical job interview is one-on-one between a candidate for employment and a hiring manager.
The interviewer will ask questions about the applicant's experience and skills, as well as about work history, availability, and the personal attributes the company is seeking in the person they will hire for the job
Source: About careers
Types of job interviewsGroup or Panel Interview
A panel job interview takes place when an applicant for employment is interviewed by a panel - or group - of interviewers.
There may be one candidate and multiple interviewers, multiple candidates and one interviewer, or several candidates and several interviewers.
Source: About careers
Types of job interviewsPhone Interview
Employers use phone interviews as a way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment.
Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews
They are also used as a way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates.
While you're actively job searching, it's important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment's notice.
Source: About careers
Types of job interviewsBehavioral Interview
Behavioral based interviewing is based on discovering how the interviewee acted in specific employment-related situations.
The logic is that how you behaved in the past will predict how you will behave in the future i.e. past performance predicts future performance
The difference between this type of interview and One on One is the type of interview questions that will be asked
Example of questions: "Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it?" or "Have you handled a difficult situation with a supervisor? How?
Source: About careers
Preparing for the interviewCheck Out the School/Company
How much do you know about the School/Company that just contacted you to schedule an interview? It should be plenty, and much of the information you need might be available online.
You have t0 be prepared both to answer interview questions and to ask the interviewer questions. You will also be able to find out whether the school/company and the school/company culture are a good fit for you
Take some time, in advance, to use the Internet to discover as much information as you can about the school
Analyze the Job Posting Take the time to analyze the job posting. Then make a list of the skills, knowledge, professional
and personal qualities that are required by the employer and are most important for success in the job.
Be ready to describe the attributes you have that make you the perfect match for the job.
The closer your qualifications match the job requirements, the better chance you'll have of getting a second round interview and a job offer
What to Bring to the Interview Identification Notepad and Pen Names of Contacts List of Questions to Ask Extra Copies of Your Resume Reference List Work Samples A Portfolio
What Not to Bring to a Job Interview Gum or candy Coffee, soda or water Phone Too many rings - if you have lots of piercings leave
some of your rings at home (one pair of earrings, is a good rule)
Your parent(s), friends or anyone else
Get Directions and Arrange
Transportation and BE ON TIME!
Interview questionsQuestion How to prepare an answer ExamplesWhat is your greatest strength?
Make a list of the qualifications mentioned in the job posting. Then, make a list of your skills that match those listed. This list can include education or training, soft skills, hard skills, or past work experiences. Narrow your list of skills down to 3-5 particularly strong skills.
I have an extremely strong work ethic. When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. Last year, I even earned a bonus for completing my three most recent reports one week ahead of time.
What is your greatest weakness?
You can mention skills that aren't critical for the job, skills you have improved on, or turn a negative into a positive.Even though the question is about weaknesses, your answer should always be framed around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee
I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time checking it. However, I've come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure everything is done correctly the first time.
Interview questions
Question How to prepare an answer ExamplesWhy are you leaving or have left your previous job?
Regardless of why you left, don't speak badly about your previous employer. The interviewer may wonder if you will be bad-mouthing his company next time you're looking for work.
There isn't room for growth with my current employer and I'm ready to move on to a new challenge.
Tell me about yourself.
It's a way to break the ice and make you feel more comfortable during the interview process. Sharing too much or too little information isn't a good idea. The interviewer doesn't want to know everything about you, but disclosing too little can make him or her wonder why you aren't more open
Try starting out by sharing some personal interests which don't relate directly to your work. Examples might include a hobby which you are passionate about like astronomy, chess, choral singing, golf, skiing, tennis, or antiquing.
Interview questionsQuestion How to prepare an answer ExamplesWhy do you want this job?
Keep in mind that you can customize these answers to fit your particular circumstances and the job you are applying for
I well understand that this is a school on the way up. Your web site says that you have innovative teaching. I want be a part of project as it grows.
Why should we hire you?
Your answer to this question should be a concise “sales pitch” that explains what you have to offer the employer.The best way to respond is to give concrete examples of why your skills and accomplishments make you the best candidate for the job. Take a few moments to compare the job description with your abilities, as well as mentioning what you have accomplished in your other positions
You describe in the job listing that you are looking for a special education assistant teacher with an abundance of patience and compassion. Having served as a tutor at a summer school for dyslexic children for the past two years, I have developed my ability to be extremely patient while still achieving academic gains with my students. My experience teaching phonics to children ages 6 to 18 has taught me strategies for working with children of all ages and abilities, always with a smile.
Interview questionsQuestion How to prepare an answer ExamplesHow do you handle stress and pressure?
It's a good idea to give examples of how you have handled stress to your interviewer. That way, they get a clear picture how well you can work in stressful situations.
Stress is very important to me. With stress, I do the best possible job. The appropriate way to deal with stress is to make sure I have the correct balance between good stress and bad stress. I need good stress to stay motivated and productive.
Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it
The best way to prepare for questions where you will need to recall events and actions is to refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or projects you have worked on. You can use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved a difficult situation.
Even though it was difficult when Jane Doe quit without notice, we were able to rearrange the department workload to cover the position until a replacement was hired. (Be positive and specific
Interview questionsQuestion How to prepare an answer ExamplesHow do you evaluate success?
In your answer, you should be cognizant of the type of job you're applying for. See if you can find any information about the school/ company mission statement
I evaluate success based on not only my work, but the work of my team. In order for me to be considered successful, the team needs to achieve both our individual and our team goals.
What are your goals for the future?
Employers want to be sure that you won't be moving on to another job right away. Don't discuss your goals for returning to school or having a family, they are not relevant and could knock you out of contention for the job.
My long-term goals involve growing with a school where I can continue to learn, take on additional responsibilities, and contribute as much of value as I can.
