Lesson 4 Career Development Todays Lesson Covering letters

Lesson 4 Career Development

Today’s Lesson: • Covering letters • Interview techniques

DO DON'T • Listen carefully and answer the question that's asked - not the one you wish you'd been asked • Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question • Give full answers. Be succinct, to the point and give examples from your experience • Be positive and enthusiastic • Pause to think, pace yourself and speak clearly • Use examples from your experience, preferably several different ones rather than the same one • Be prepared to ask questions. Only ask questions if you really want the information • Maintain eye contact - at a panel interview, answer and look at the person who asked the question but don't exclude the others • Be yourself, relax and smile • Ramble on for too long or digress • Worry about long silences. Tell the interviewer you are taking a moment to think about the question • Ask questions about things you should know about. • Ask too many questions • Try to take control of the interview - it's not a power struggle • Be negative, such as being critical of a previous employer • Slouch • Fold your arms • Distract from what you are saying by fidgeting or gesticulating when explaining something

Why did you choose your course and your university? What aspects of your course have you most enjoyed, and why? What skills have you gained at university? What non-academic activities have you been involved in? What have you learned from work experience? What achievements are you most proud of in your life? What are your career aspirations for the future? What are your key strengths? What development needs do you have, and what steps have you taken to address these? What research or preparation did you do for this interview? Why have you applied for this role? What attracts you to our organisation? Do you know who our major competitors are? What differentiates us from them? What do you see as the major challenges facing our organisation over the next five years?

Typical competency-based questions may include: This role involves working as part of the Consulting Team. Can you give an example of when you’ve worked as part of a team to achieve a task? We recruit graduates as the future leaders of our organisation. Can you give me an example of when you’ve undertaken a leadership role? Can you give me an example of when you’ve used your problem-solving skills? Tell me about a time when you had to take a risk.

Situation - Briefly describe the where/when/who. Task - Outline the task or objective (what you hoped to achieve). Action - Describe what you did - focus on your role and your input. Result - Tell the interviewer what the outcome was, and what skills you developed as a result. Star Technique

Why did you change course after your first year? Can you explain your A’ level results? What would you say has been your greatest setback? How would your friends describe you? Have you ever had to work in a team with someone you didn’t like or who wasn’t doing their fair share? There seems to be a year you haven’t accounted for on your CV. What were you doing during that year?

http: //careers. southwales. ac. uk/interviews/