Agenda7:45-8am Arrive. Tea, coffee and nibbles in JCR8:00-8:10am MOCA Co-Presidents welcome8:10-8:25am James Witcombe, SMAART Recruitment8:25-8:50am Panel discussion8:50-9:05am Industry breakout sessions9:05-9:30am Networking over breakfast9:30am- College development tours (as requested)

How to get a job

How to keep a job

What to do when you hate your job

Today is not just about today, it’s about building something for our future

Graduate Job Interview Tips

James Witcombe

…and a few unofficial truths

• Mannix 2001-2004 (yes, 4 years)• 2 business degrees at Monash (Caulfield)• Working in recruitment 2005 – present– A lot of recruitment for sales based positions. Also work on

accounting, administration, finance, HR roles.– Probably interviewed 2,000 people and placed 300 in jobs.

My background

• I applied for around 20 graduate jobs.• I was 100% sure I “nailed” my first job, but looking back now it

is so clear what I did wrong.• Job interviewing is all about preparation.• Practice makes perfect – you will get better with every

interview

My graduate job application process

• In summary, the recruitment process can be summarised down into 2 main questions:

Q1. Can this person do the job? Q2. Will they fit into (and add to) our culture?

• In graduate recruitment, the majority of candidates can do the job, so fitting into company culture is the main variable between candidates.

Recruitment – the unofficial truths

Resume http://www.monash.edu.au/careers/ free resource with great

examples. Be specific, go into detail, standout. Most recruiters review 50-200

resumes a day. Generally a recruiter will take 10-20 seconds to review a resume before

deciding on its suitability.

Cover letter Be specific, make the recruiter believe you are only applying for that 1

job. Mention who you have met (at Careers Fair), what you know about the

business (something interesting) and why they are your Number 1 choice of employer.

Your application/resume

Do a Social Media Audit: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter etc• It is public domain information. • Employers WILL look at yours.• Employers WILL make a judgement on what they see.• LinkedIn MUST mirror resume with jobs/dates etc.

Your application/resume

What was the candidates first impression like?• Don’t be on time… be at location 45 minutes early. Walk in

5-10 minutes early.• Presentation/dress – plain suit and tie, clean shaven,

minimal piercings and jewellery for guys. Females dress on the conservative side.

• Don’t arrive hungry, don’t smoke, don’t cover yourself in aftershave, pop a mint (not a chewy).

• Have a compendium with you – look professional.

The questions recruiters ask themselves

• Handshake – not too firm, and not a wet fish.• Smile, you are happy to be here!• Know the interviewers name. “Nice to meet you James,

thank you for seeing me today”.• Many recruiters make up their mind on a candidates

suitability for a role in the first 2 minutes… first impression is everything.

Your aim is for the recruiter to think - “Wow, that candidate was impressive from the first second. I would be happy to have them represent my business”.

The questions recruiters ask themselves

Is the candidate after this specific job, or just any job?• I want to see a candidate who wants to work for me – and lets

me know it:• Careers fairs/Open days.• LinkedIn. • Company website.• Up to date on industry news.

The questions recruiters ask themselves

• Have 3-4 well prepared, written questions (in your compendium) that you can ask at the end of the interview.

• The way a candidate applies themselves in the job searching process is the way the will apply themselves in the workplace.

Your aim is for the recruiter to think - “Wow, that candidate certainly seemed very enthusiastic about working for our business.”

The questions recruiters ask themselves

• Can this person do the job?• Academically – do you meet the criteria?

o If you go above and beyond the criteria (e.g. HD’s) – let the interviewer know. Otherwise, it may as well not have happened.

• Work experience – do you meet the criteria?o ALL work experience is relevant to a point. You just need to look at the angle

and what relevance you gained from your work experience to this particular role.

• Skills – do you meet the criteria?o Know the criteria beforehand so you can prepare to address it.

Your aim is for the recruiter to think - “The candidate clearly demonstrated they understand what the role is doing, and that they can do it.”

The questions recruiters ask themselves

The questions recruiters ask themselves

How well did the candidate answer my questions?

Practice your answers• What are your strengths?• What are your weaknesses?• Give me an example of…

o A time you worked in a team that was successful?o A time you worked in a team the failed?o A time you went above and beyond for a customer?o A time you had to deal with an awkward situation at work?

Your aim is for the recruiter to think - “The candidate was able to provide good detail and relevant examples to all my questions”.

• And finally, perhaps the most important question recruiters ask themselves (but one that’s not politically correct so don’t shoot me)…

The questions recruiters ask themselves

Do I like this person?

• If the recruiter likes you, your chances of getting the job are far greater than if they don’t.

• You might not like it, but its true.

The questions recruiters ask themselves

In summarySome practical steps from here:• Resumes: http://www.monash.edu.au/careers/ free

resource with great examples.• Cover letters: Be specific, make the recruiter believe you

are only applying for that 1 job.• Interviews: Practice, practice, practice.• Job hunting: Do and use everything and anything.

Advertised jobs, direct approaches. Careers fairs, LinkedIn and so on.

Today: Put the above into practice. If there is anyone here that is of interest introduce yourself, get their details, stay in touch and make the most of it.

GET YOUR CV UP TO SCRATCH…FOR FREE

James WitcombeWaverley Branch ManagerSMAART Recruitmentjames@smaart.com.au03 9955 0202 / 0413 212 421au.linkedin.com/pub/james-witcombe/13/692/30b

My details

**Free resume assessment for everyone that attended today**

Professional Panel

Industry Breakout Sessions

Business/Commerce

Marketing/Communications

Engineering

Arts

Medicine/Health Science

Breakfast

College development tours