This is an introduction to the subject of career preparation covering the definition of career, how to use social media, the importance of networking and strengthening relationships, some tips on preparing your CV and a brief introduction to interview formats.

1. Career Preparation Skills
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Titilayo Falade Ph. D
Career Preparation Workshop
University of Ibadan Baptist Church
14 March 2020

2. Career
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Old definition
Road or
Racecourse
• Originated in the mid 16th Century.
• It meant ‘Road’ or ‘Racecourse’
• English word came from the Latin word ‘Carrus’
meaning ‘wheeled vehicle’
Modern definition
Progress through
one’s life
Definitions of career
• “An occupation undertaken for a significant period of
a person’s life and with opportunities for progress”
• “Progress through history”
Points to note/questions to ask
Life is a
journey.
Where do you
want to go?
What is
your goal?
How can you get there?

3. The journey process
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Purchase ticket
Source: emirates.com
Board the vehicle
Source: misadventureswithandi.com
Journey on
(Grow your networks, experience on
your journey)
How can you get there?

4. Career progression as a journey
4
Purchase ticket
Source: emirates.com
Board the vehicle
Source: misadventureswithandi.com
Grow your networks
on your journey
Like money is a medium of exchange for goods and services,
Time is a medium of exchange for life’s experiences
Question to ask: What are you accruing in terms of qualifications and
expertise ?
On a vehicle you get what you paid for (business class vs economy class
accessibilities)
Accrue things of value with time to be able to access more (e.g. kind of
certifications, volunteer experiences)
Question to ask: What do my skills or qualifications grant access to?
On your journey, there are those who had previously travelled the route
or know people who have.
Learn from others and share as you travel through time. Start a
conversation or be part of one.
Question to ask: Who are those around me and how can we grow
together through knowledge sharing?

5. Things to think about today
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What does my
Curriculum Vitae
tell about my
journey?
How can I
demonstrate
competence?
How can soft skills
help my career?
What can I expect
at interviews?
How can I grow my
network?
These and more…
What do I want for
my career?

6. Networking Practice
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Meet someone new
Exchange pleasantries
Strike up a conversation
Share your experience
Be professional
(Respect boundaries)
NETWORKING CARD
Name:
Email address:
Phone Number:
Shared interests:
Something of interest:
Other contact info:

7. Social Media and My Career
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8. Social Media
• Social media can be (is) used to search out profile of applicants
by employers (e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Social media can also be used to search for job opportunities or
projects that match your profile (e.g. LinkedIn, ResearchGate)
• You can re-establish connections or professional interactions can
be held to grow/strengthen professional relationships
Facebook and Twitter posts tell about your interest, personality
and networks, so post, comment, like, share and be tagged
responsibly (especially on for public posts)
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9. Remember social media is a public place, use responsibly
Updating your profile to match interests, achievements
Posting beneficial content that uplifts your image
Writing with correct grammar and few or no typographical errors
Responding with objectivity and sensitivity
Growing your networks and interacting professionally
Sharing links to already published articles without infringing on
copyright laws
Mention other examples
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10. Remember social media is a public place, use responsibly
Posting offensive comments about organisation or colleague
Posting pictures of yourself or colleagues in antisocial contexts
Publishing research outcomes intended for journal publication
Announcing details of your interview, interview process, interviewer, etc
on social media without permission.
Responding with poor grammar in chats, Whatsapp messages, Skype
messages used to communicate with you (e.g. Am going to b dere at dat
time instead of I’m going to be there at that time)
Lying or in close association with people that can damage your
reputation
Mention other examples
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11. Some note with preparing your CV
• Present your CV with utmost care – presentation matters
• For entry positions it is advisable to restrict your CV to one page
• For early career professionals, it is advisable to restrict your CV to a maximum of 2
pages
• For more senior positions requiring list of publications, etc., longer CVs are welcomed
• Present what you accomplished
• Be careful about including your age, religious affiliation, picture unless these are
expressly requested or to your advantage to mention
• In some countries it is illegal to discriminate based on age and gender and so inclusion
of these on your CV may not be to your advantage. Do your research.
• Request for permission from referees before including their contact details
• Provide a professional email address that is active
• (e.g. firstname.surname@gmail.com instead of lovelyme@gmail.com, etc)
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Your CV tells the story
of your journey

12. Brief Introduction to Interview
Process
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13. Interview Formats
Behavioural
Case
GroupPhone
Video

14. Interview Formats - Behavioural
Behavioural Premise: Behaviour in the past in previous
experience , predicts future behaviour(s)
Examples
• Give an example of a difficult situation that you experienced in
the past and how you resolved it.
• Tell the panel about a time when you had to work effectively
under pressure and how you managed the situation.
• Have you ever gone above and beyond the call of duty in your
assignment? If yes, please tell us how.
Interest: Soft skills / people skills, emotional intelligence

15. Responding to Behavioural Interview
Source: Management30.com

16. Interview Formats - Case
Case Premise: If you can think through, you can
do same in the future
Examples
• How will you determine the additional number of new drivers’
licenses that will be issued this year?
• How can you determine the number of cars in the University of
Ibadan and estimate the parking spaces required?
• How would you ensure child protection in an organisation that
allows the movement of several children on their premises?
Interest: Analytical thinking, steps and thought process in decision-
making. No right or wrong answers per se.

17. Interview Formats - Group
Group Premise: When a panel interviews, the
process can be seen as efficient and fair
Examples
• Tell us about yourself
• Why did you apply for this role?
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• Competency-based questions [e.g. How would you manage a
high conflict situation between two staff in the same
organization]
Interest: Does speech align with CV, respect, confidence,
goal-oriented, fair, just…
Preparation is important!
Practice. Practice. Practice

18. Interview Formats - Phone
Phone Generally more focused.
May be similar to panel/ video interview
Examples
• Self introduction
• Interest in role
• Why considering exiting current role
• Competency-based questions
• Salary expectations, etc.
Interest: Understanding candidates’ competencies and expectations
Best done standing – confidence
Smiling is recommended – they can ‘hear’ it
Practice.

19. Video Interview style may be panel – based.
• Check connection, sound, lighting before the day
• Send documents ahead and prepare as if there in person
• Dress formally and limit background or sound distractions
• Reduce hand gestures because of lag effects with connections
• Place camera at eye level
• Be your best. Videos can be replayed and reviewed for
assessment or record purposes
Interest: Responses as in relevant style. Cheaper for recruiter

20. Summary
• Career progression as a journey
• Social media as a tool to help career progression
– Strengthening relationships
– Job searches
– Projections
– Responsible use of social media
• CV – Telling the story of your journey
• Brief Introduction to the Interview Process
• Practice, practice, practice.
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21. 21
Acknowledgements
• University of Ibadan Baptist Church
(through the Scholarship Committee)
• Chief Remi Popoola
• Mr. Michael Oyediji
• Ms. Seyi Adelere
• Volunteers