Resume Writing

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Resume Writing Interview Techniques Lincoln
Sayers Senior HR Advisor - RecruitmentFebruary
2005
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Objective of the Session

• Equip you with information to best prepare your
  resume
• Equip you with information and some practical
  experience on how to perform at your best in the
  IT Job interview

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My Background

• Over 8 years of recruitment experience in the IT
  industry
• Recruitment Agency
• Corporate
• Currently manage the recruitment for Infosys
  Australia nationally
• Graduates
• Experienced hires
• Executive

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Agenda

• About You
• Who are you?
• What are you studying and what year?
• What do you want to achieve from this workshop?
• Resume Writing
• Understand the job you are seeking
• How to find the job you are seeking
• Applying for the job you are seeking
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Interviews
• Securing an Interview
• Preparing for the Interview
• The Interview
• Post Interview
• Hints

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About You

• Who are you?
• What are you studying and what year?
• What do you want to achieve from this workshop?

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Resume Writing

• Before you write your resume, you need to know
  what you are writing it for and who your audience
  is.
• Understand the job you are seeking
• Define what you enjoy doing
• Application Development
• Research
• Support
• System Integration
• Enterprise Solutions
• Technology

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Resume Writing Contd.

• Understand the job you are seeking Contd
• Define the sort of company you want to work for
• Global/National/Local
• SME/Large
• Industry
• Internal Corporate/Services
• Culture
• Define what job satisfaction means to you
• Define your career aspirations

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Resume Writing Contd

• How to find the job you are seeking
• Now that you know what job you are seeking, you
  have to find it!!!
• Approach finding a job as a project
• Keep a Job diary/folder
• Be Proactive
• Career Fairs
• Graduate advertising
• Company Career Web Sites
• Previous graduates

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Resume Writing Contd

• How to find the job you are seeking Contd
• Research company
• Web Site
• Employees
• Media Articles
• Industry contacts

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Resume Writing Contd

• Applying for the job you are seeking Cover
  Letter and Resume
• By now you should know what job you want, what
  sort of company you want to work with that will
  provide you with job satisfaction and your
  desired career path, and you have done your
  research.
• You are now well equipped to put in a killer
  application.

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Resume Writing Contd

• Applying for the job you are seeking Cover
  Letter and Resume Contd.
• Firstly support your research by gaining a
  comprehensive understanding of the requirements
  of the job
• Cover Letter
• Structure
• Keep it succinct and to 1 page
• Content
• Position applying for
• Relevant skills, experience and qualifications
• Strengths
• Reasons why you want the position
• Industry
• Company
• Position

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Resume Writing Contd

• Applying for the job you are seeking Cover
  Letter and Resume Contd.
• Cover Letter Contd
• Dos
• Address the appropriate person
• Make it unique there will be hundreds of other
  applicants!!!
• Tailor it to the job
• Correct Spelling and Grammar
• Donts
• Remember, you still have the resume to come,
  dont bombard them everything you have got in the
  Cover Letter

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Resume Writing Contd

• Applying for the job you are seeking Cover
  Letter and Resume Contd.
• Resume
• Structure
• Keep it to about 3 pages
• Content
• Personal Details
• Secondary and Tertiary Education Summary
• Relevant Technical and Soft Skills Summary
• Relevant Memberships and Affiliations
• Work Experience and Projects
• Interests
• Tertiary results

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Resume Writing Contd

• Applying for the job you are seeking Cover
  Letter and Resume Contd.
• Resume Contd
• What employers want to see
• Exceptional Results
• Relevant skills and work experience
• Genuine interest in the IT industry
• Demonstrated Leadership Potential
• Correct Spelling and Grammar

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Interviews

• Securing an Interview
• Be Proactive
• Follow Up
• Make a call plan
• Be flexible
• 1st impression
• Get as much information as possible
• Time and address
• Who will be conducting the interview
• What type of interview/tests
• Obtain a Job Description
• What is the interview process

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Interviews Contd.

• Preparing for the Interview
• The more you know, the more confident you will
  be in the interview. Know the company, the
  position and what you have to offer
• Research
• Previous graduates
• Company Web Site
• Employees
• Media Articles
• Industry contacts
• Match your skills and experience to the Job
  Description
• Are YOU Ready?
• Presentation
• Get a suit (conservative/business-like)
• Attention to grooming
• Look good - Feel good

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Interviews Contd.

• Preparing for the Interview Contd
• Getting there
• Know where you are going and how to get there
  before the day of the interview
• Dont be late
• Be early
• Clearly announce yourself on arrival
• What to bring
• Resume
• Copy of Advertisement and Job Description
• Questions
• University Results
• Proof of Residency status
• Professional Attitude!!!!

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Interviews Contd.

• The Interview
• Dos
• Maintain eye contact
• Focus on positives
• Listen
• Know your strengths
• Adapt to the interviewer and try to build a
  rapport
• Poise
• Assess the company (Interviews are a two way
  street)
• Find out the next steps
• Donts
• Be arrogant
• Interrupt
• Focus on negatives
• Rude

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Interviews Contd.

• The Interview Contd
• Types of Interviews
• Behavioural (STAR)
• Technical
• Panel
• Assessment Centres
• Commonly asked questions
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What are your strengths?
• What areas can you improve in?
• What are your career aspirations?
• Complex problem solving

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Interviews Contd.

• The Interview Contd
• Behavioural Interviews STAR
• Situation, Task, Action, Result
• Competency based interview
• Be specific
• Real examples (not hypothetical)
• What did YOU do
• Examples
• (Initiative) Tell me a time when you identified a
  task that needed to be done before you were
  asked.
• (Influence) Tell me a time when you gained
  others support for an idea, proposal, project
  and/or solution,
• (Innovation) Tell me a time when you developed
  the introduction of new and improved methods,
  procedures or technologies
• (Decisiveness) Tell me a time when you made a
  decision in difficult or an ambiguous situation,
  when time was critical

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Interviews Contd.

• Post Interview
• Send an email/letter thanking the interviewer for
  their time and the opportunity
• Make an assessment on your interest in the
  company
• Prepare for the next interview

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Hints

• Research
• Tailor the Application
• Be Proactive
• Prepare
• Know what you have to offer
• Go for Gold