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
QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT
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)
CRICOS No. 00213J
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!
CRICOS No. 00213J
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
CRICOS No. 00213J
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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QUT CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT
CRICOS No. 00213J
Thank You & Good Luck
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