A brief presentation delivered to the Golden Key International Honour Society focused on graduate preparation for active job search. Topics addressed include: * Overall Search Strategy * Advertised Recruitment and Selection Processes * Principles for Resume, Cover Letter, and Responses to Selection Criteria Responses Development * The Importance of Achievement Stories * Resume Inclusions and Exclusions * Employer Hiring Perspectives * Interview Performance * Social Media / Reputation Management

1. Barry J Horne
T: (08) 9448 6753 Golden Key International
E: barryjh@amnet.net.au Honour Society
L: http://au.linkedin.com/in/barryhorne August 2014

2. Apply for
Advertised
Positions
Approach (e.g.
Graduate)
Recruitment
Consultants
Network to
Identify
Emerging
Opportunities
and Decision-
Makers
Directly
Approach
Qualified Target
Companies and
People
Horne (2014)

3. • Spotted, Assessed, Inquired
• Potential Elements – Resume, Cover Letter, Responses to
Selection Criteria
Role Advertised
• Application Acknowledged
• Majority Screened Out
• Short List of Candidates Developed
Application Submitted
• Psychometric Assessment
• Exclusion of Some Interviewed Candidates
• Reference Checking of Remaining Candidates
First Round Interview
• Further Exclusion of More Interviewed Candidates
Second Round Interview • Medical Checks for Remaining Candidates
• Offer Made to Preferred Candidate
Negotiation with Preferred
Candidate/Offer
Horne (2014)

4. All [4Cs] : Concise, Clear, Correct, Courteous
Resumes [3Rs]
• Relevance
• Recency
• Results
Letters [SWUC]
• Show Interest
• Why Me
• Unique Sales
Proposition (USP)
• Contact Me
Responses to
Selection Criteria
(STAR)
• Situation
• Task/Tactic
• Actions
• Results
Career
Solutions (2012)

5. Situation
When?
Where?
What?
Who (Role)?
Task/Tactic
How ?
Overarching
Approach
/Initiative Taken
Actions
How?
Logical Stages
and Phases
Results
Why (So What)?
Relate to
Business Goals
Horne (2014)
An Achievement Story with
no Results is Like a Joke
Without a Punch Line!

6.  Career Objective / Profile Statement
Snapshot Impression to Stimulate Interest
 Qualifications / Training
Relevant to Target Role
 Employment History and Contexts
Employer Profiles (Products, Services, Client/Geographic
Markets, Size)
Role (Purpose, Key Responsibilities, Skills Applied,
Achievements)
Horne (2014)

7.  Student Professional Memberships
Implies Industry Knowledge, Network of
Peers
 Community Engagement (Development
and Application of Skills)
Volunteer Roles
University Life / Leadership
Upper High School Community Contributions
 Recreational Interests
Balanced Person (Active / Passive; Team / Individual)
Horne (2014)

8. Information Likely to Result in Screening Out. In general:
 Age
 Marital Status
 Place of Birth
 Salary Expectations
 Religion
 Political Affiliations
 Health Status
 Photographs
 Referees (Unless Requested at Time of Application)
 Reasons for Leaving Past Roles
Horne (2014)

9. Hudson
Highland (2005)

10. COMPETENCE
Supervise Others?
Communicate
Effectively?
Technical Skills?
Disciplinary
Knowledge?
Horne (2014)
FIT
Experienced in
Industry?
Similar
Workplace
Cultures?
Work with Existing
Team?
POTENTIAL
Sense of
Professional
Direction?
Level of Drive and
Initiative?

11. Youth
Central (2013)

12.  Career Solutions (2012). CareerWorks Self-Marketing Tips. Perth.
 Hudson Highland Group Inc (2005). The Hudson Report. Employment
Trends. HR Insights. Part Two, Getting Smart About Talent Management.
October – December. Australia
 Youth Central (2013). It’s There for Life! Victorian Government. Retrieved at:
http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/Web+%26+Social+Safety/It's+There+for+Life/