CV and Interview - Skills & Tips

1. http://www.cit.ie
CV and Interview
Skills & Tips
Celvin Lane
Thursday: 03/05/2018
Room: C167 | 6 – 7 PM

2. Curriculum Vitae
 Curriculum Vitae (CV) means “course of life” in Latin.
 Written description of your work experience, educational
background and skills.
 A CV is typically a “living document” which will reflect the
developments in a professional’s career.
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Background

3. Curriculum Vitae
 Marketing tool: First impression is the one which lasts.
 Your “big picture”: A detailed snapshot of your professional
and academic life.
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Purpose of a CV

4. Curriculum Vitae
 Find out information about the role/position.
 Look at skills needed.
 Develop a Personal Profile.
 Tailor your CV (Structure, Layout & Content)
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Target your CV

5. Curriculum Vitae
 Personal Profile
 Education
 Projects
 Skills: Technical, communications, analytical etc.
 Work Experience
 Interests and Achievements
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CV Formats

6. Curriculum Vitae
 Format: 2 pages maximum.
 Academic: Work with your strengths, relevant subjects,
projects, and results.
 Course: Related Skills: IT, Software, Lab work, etc.…
 Work: Show skills, not only tasks involved.
Essential Tips
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7. Curriculum Vitae
 Name (Font 16 & Bold)
 Address (Font 12)
 Mobile Number (Font 12)
 Set up your voicemail!
 E-mail Address (Font 12)
 NB: Business-like
 LinkedIn
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Personal Details

8. Curriculum Vitae
• 2 to 3 purposeful sentences (the information has relevance to the employer
and/or the job for which you are applying.)
• Your profile demonstrates:
• Your current status
• 2 to 3 key skills and a proven achievement where possible
• CV objective – seeking a placement…
• Who you are?
• - Target driven Software student
• Functional Attributes
• - Excellent knowledge of key programming languages
• Desirable Personal Attributes
• - Genuine desire to succeed/make a contribution
• 2 or 3 targeted skills
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Personal Profile

9. Curriculum Vitae
• Provide information: dates, course title, College
• Outline details of subjects studied, specific modules, projects
undertaken, technical or lab skills acquired if applicable
• Provide information re: results achieved in specific
years/modules/projects.
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Education

10. Curriculum Vitae
 Provide information on relevant projects undertaken:
 Begin with the Title and a brief Description
 What research did you carry out?
 What Methods did you use?
 What was the analysis that you conducted?
 What were your findings?
 What result was achieved?
 Optional: Include web link to project
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Projects

11. Curriculum Vitae
• Outline the expertise you have developed in specific areas.
• Name the techniques/skills.
• Example:
• HTML: Excellent knowledge of HTML, developed while undertaking
individual web design project.
• Google Analytics: Excellent knowledge of Google Analytics, along with
achieving Goole Analytics IQ assessment.
• Communications Skills: communicating both verbal and written via
email and telephone.
• IT Skills: using laboratory software including SAP, LIMS, Empower.
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Skills

12. Curriculum Vitae
• Work: show skills not only obvious activity
• What exactly did I do?
• What skills did I use?
• What new skills did I develop?
• What did I do that I was proud of!
Tip: Tailor you're experience to the sector you are applying to Possible
Headings. For Example:
• Work Experience/ Professional Experience/ Relevant
Experience/Administrative Experience/ Marketing Experience…
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Education

13. Curriculum Vitae
• Don’t…
• Write Curriculum Vitae as a heading
• Don’t…
• Sign or date your CV
• Don’t
• Give incorrect information
• Don’t
• Have any spelling mistakes or typos
• Don’t
• No longer use I, My, We, etc…
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Don’t for your CV

14. Applying for roles
 Websites; Jobs.ie, Indeed.ie, and LinkedIn.
 Search companies/roles which you wish for and apply to
companies on their websites.
 Make a list of jobs you applied for!
 Follow up!
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Tips!

15. Interviews
 Interview: A meeting with an objective
 Employer’s objective is to find the best person for the job
 Employer: reviews candidate’s experience and abilities
 Can you do the job? (skills, abilities, qualifications)
 Will you do the job? (interest, attitude & motivation)
 How will you fit into the organisation? (personality)
 You: impress employer and assess position on offer
 What does this position offer me?
 How does it fit with my career plans?
 Congratulations: you have passed the first hurdle
 You must prove that you are the most suitable candidate for this
position
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What to expect

16. Interviews
 Review own skills, experiences and qualities
 Check CV
 Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples
 Prepare key selling points
 Research organisation
 Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc
 Contacts with knowledge of organisation or sector
 Relevant articles in the press
 Personal visit or telephone call
 Research job and occupational area
 Job description – or similar
 Current issues
 Prepare your questions
 Practice
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Preparation is the key to success

17. Interviews
 First impressions are very powerful.
 Halo effect or Devil effect
 Allow time to relax.
 Dress appropriately.
 Entrance, introductions & handshake.
 Smile and make eye contact.
 Be aware of own movements.
 Watch body language of interviewer.
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Body Language

18. Interviews
 About you
 Tell me about yourself - Bring me up to date with your CV?
 Why did you choose that particular degree programme?
 What would you consider your major achievements to date?
 About the job
 What interests you about this job?
 What do you know about this organisation?
 What other options are you considering?
 How do you see your career developing – 5 years?
 General knowledge
 What do you think of the Government’s policy on college fees?
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Typical Questions

19. Interviews
 Company identifies key skills required for job
 Designs questions to elicit evidence of skills
 Emphasis on past behaviour as predictor of success
 Teamwork: Describe a team project you worked on. What problems arose?
How did you deal with them?
 Communication Skills: Describe situation when you had to persuade others to
support your view. Give an example of any reports you’ve written which
illustrate your writing skills
 Interpersonal skills: What kinds of people do you find it difficult to work with?
How do you handle those situations?
 Taking Responsibility: Describe a time when you took responsibility to achieve
a challenging goal
 Problem-solving: Tell about a time when you had several tasks to manage at
one time with conflicting deadlines.
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Competency-based Interviews

20. Interviews
 Q: Give me an example of a problem you encountered. How did
you approach it. What was the outcome?
 STAR response
 S: Describe the situation
 T: Explain the task/problem that arose
 A: What action did you take?
 R: What was the result or outcome?
 What did you learn from this experience?
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Responding to Competency Questions

21. Interview
Employer needs:
 Communication
 Team work
 Leadership
 Initiative
 Customer Care
 IT
 Commercial awareness
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Matching Skills to Requirements. Example:
Your evidence:
 Presentation to class
 Group project
 Class rep, Committee
 Fundraising for charity
 Working in SuperValu
 Designed website
 Business pages

22. Interviews
 Listen carefully, seek clarification
 Illustrate answers with real examples and evidence
 Be positive – constructive criticism
 Keep answers specific and concise
 Take time to respond
 Be alert to interviewer’s body language
 Speak clearly, smile and show enthusiasm
 Know what you want to say, and find the opportunity
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Your Answers

23. Interviews
 Good all-round intelligence
 Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation
 Good communication skills
 Team work ability
 Ability to solve problems
 Capacity to work hard
 Initiative and self-reliance
 Balanced personality
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Qualities Employers Seek

24. Interviews
 Poor personal appearance
 Negative attitude – evasive, using excuses
 Lack of interest and enthusiasm
 Lack of preparation
 Poor knowledge of role
 Failure to give concrete examples of skills
 Over emphasis on money/rewards
 Lack of career plan
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What creates a bad impression

25. Interviews
 Review own performance
 What went well
 What went badly
 What you wished you had said
 Prepare for next stage
 Invitation to second / final round interviews
 Assessment centre
 Psychometric testing
 Panel interview
 Rejection letter / email
 If you can request feedback - use it
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What creates a bad impression

26. Interviews
 CV: Personal Statement, Experience, Education, and Skills
 Applying for jobs: Websites, LinkedIn.
 Interviews: Research business before, prepare questions, and use the STAR
response for answering.
 Email: celvin.lane@mycit.ie for further questions, advice, or help!
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Summarise

27. http://www.cit.ie
Celvin Lane
03/05/2018
Thank you
Any further questions, help or advice: Celvin.lane@mycit.ie