QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

CRICOS No. 00213J

Effective ApplicationsResumes and Selection Criteria

Shari WalshPostgraduate Career Counsellor

Self

Influences

World of Work

Understanding

Decision Making

Goal Setting

Implementation

Review

Self

Influences

World of Work

Understanding

Decision MakingDecision Making

Goal Setting

Goal Setting

ImplementationImplementation

ReviewReview

CRICOS No. 00213J

Discuss

• What makes an effective application?

• What information is needed?

• How do you emphasise important information?

QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

CRICOS No. 00213J

The Key to it all......KNOW YOUR SKILLS!

• Specialised• Transferable• Personal Qualities

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What are your skills?

• Using the worksheet• Rate yourself for each skill

• Circle those which you enjoy using

• What evidence is there for your skills rating?

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Your personal statement

• Identify 3 skills or attributes.

• What experience do you have?

• How will you benefit the organisation?

• I am... with... who will or who wants to...

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Transferable Skills• Communication

– effective writing– effective speaking– listening– languages– computing

• Managing & Organising– organising– working independently– achieving outcomes

• Teamwork– cooperating– motivating others

• Problem solving– identifying/analysing– applying knowledge– researching– decision making– follow through– seeing the ‘big picture’– appreciating values/ethics

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CRICOS No. 00213J

Resumes

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Something to think about

• A Resume is more than just a document

• A Resume is– A paper representation of you - your skills, your

values, your strengths– A living document – evolving and changing – An opportunity to help another person understand you

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What to expect – academic applications

• Australia – Resume & Selection Criteria (almost exclusively) Referee reports

• Singapore – resume only• Taiwan – CV & referees reports (direct)• UK – varies

– Cover Letter, CV, plus supporting documentation– CV and Selection Criteria

• USA – letter of interest & CV

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Styles of Resume (Templates)

• Choose the layout and design YOU like – there is no ‘correct’ style

• Chronological (reverse – most recent first)• Functional (grouped into categories)• Combination Chronological/Functional• Academic (longer includes more information than

industry)

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Make it easy to read

• Highlight important information • Appropriate language• Bullet points• Borders, lines, white space• Minimum 11pt font

• REMEMBER – your job is to help the reader understand whether or not you are the best person for

the role

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Academic vs Industry applications• Academic/research

– Academic jargon

– Research/academic skills• Theory development

• Research collaborations

• Unit co-ordination etc

– Publications• Impact factor, ERA

– Grants• $$$$$

• Non-academic– Industry appropriate

language– Employability skills

• Critical thinking

• Integration/interpretation

• Data analysis

– Publications• Audience type

– Grants• Relevance

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What areas should you include?• Personal details • Career objective/Skills Summary/Personal Profile etc• Education/Qualifications/Training• Research Statement/Teaching Philosophy (academic) • Employment/work history (paid and unpaid)• Achievements • General and specific skills • Interests/Hobbies • Publications/Conferences/Grants• Referees

PLUS ANY OTHER SECTIONS RELEVANT TO THE ROLE

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Personal Details

Name Contact details Nationality, date of birth, health, marital

status/children, any other discriminatory information, all optional

Photo

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Personal statement/career summary

• Your chance to shine & grab their attention• Make it personal to you• Don’t copy nice sounding phrases • Use short sentences, specific and factual

• Overview of previous and current history• Area of interest or future career goal• 3 – 4 skills or strengths

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Education

• How far back to go?• How much detail to go

into?

• Academic transcripts• Other educational

achievements

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Your research statement

• What was your primary research question?

• What was the outcome/ is expected?

• What implications does this have for the ‘real’ world?

• My research into.... found/is expected to find... This means....

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Employment history/ work experience

• Break into sections– career-related/ none career-related– Academic, research, professional

• All jobs are valuable – what skills did you use? • Relevant experience is best• Include voluntary or community work• Role, dates, responsibilities, skills &

achievements

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Publications & Conference Presentations

• BOLD your name in authorship listing

• Group into sections• Most recent first• Cite as per discipline area• Full list?

– Academic - usually

– Industry – 3 most impactful – full list probably on a separate document) – refer to in resume

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Interests/Hobbies

• Can add ‘colour’ and personality

• What will an employer read into your interests?

• Level of involvement

‘I enjoy rugby’

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Referees

• 3 ideally• Should include PhD supervisor and direct work

supervisor• Ask them first

Or

‘Available on Request’

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Do’s and Don’ts

Spell check and proof read Well presented easy to read 4 - 5 pages maximum (esp industry!) Matches their requirements with your skills Lets your personality show though

Don’t get it done by a professional- should be in your own words

Don’t be dishonest!

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Exercise

• In small groups hand round your Resume and note on each persons:

• One thing you like (that you may not have thought of yourself)

• One thing you suggest changing and why

• Feedback, Feedback, Feedback

QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

CRICOS No. 00213J

Selection Criteria

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Selection Criteria

• Basis for a panel to short-list for interview• Use key requirements of the position as outlined in the

Position Description• Usually for Government / University…• Tries to bring equity to the process• A selection panel determines the standards for each

criteria and applicants are ranked on these• Different levels

– sound, excellent, highly developed, demonstrated

• Interview questions will be based on the selection criteria

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Identify the important information

and make a link between

you (Phd Scholar) and the role (professional)

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Types of Selection Criteria

• Mandatory Requirements– Qualifications– Membership with professional associations or registration boards– Residency status– Licences– Level of experience

• Others– Desirable experience, knowledge, skills & abilities, personal

qualities

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Typical Lay Out & Length

• Address each one under a separate heading – Don’t summarise criteria; write in full

• Content for each SC (except Qualifications)

– 3/4 a page to a page for EACH criteria– Approx 300 Words for EACH criteria – 1 per page vs ongoing document

• Use a combination of narrative & bullet points where possible

• Use highlighting where appropriate

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Statement of claim

• New approach to SC• One document to address a group of SC• Still need to discuss each SC and present

evidence

• Highlight throughout the particular SC relevant to the experience you are describing

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The Magic Formula

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Example

ContextA group of around 20 Postgraduate Students who wanted a workshop

on Job Seeking Skills

ActionSpoke with staff, researched employers needs and sourced relevant

information

ResultAll students attended and verbal feedback indicated that content and

style of workshop was both highly relevant and useful to them

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Activity - address an SC

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CRICOS No. 00213J

Thank You & Good Luck

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