This document provides guidance on application documents and interviews for job seeking. It discusses the importance of tailoring application materials like cover letters and CVs to each specific job. Key recommendations include emphasizing relevant skills, being concise at 1-2 pages, and highlighting motivation and fit for the role. The document also outlines common interview questions and advises preparing examples and responses that showcase one's competencies and interests. Employers are not allowed to ask about private matters under Finnish law. Overall, the document stresses customizing materials for each application, demonstrating strong interest and qualifications, and preparing thoroughly for the interview process.

1. C & C Career & CompetenceCareercoachinggroupSession 4Application documents & interviewsMilja Tuomaala & Tiina Hämäläinen, University of Oulu, VALOA-project

2. Job seekingprocessWhat can you do?What do you want to do? Goal achieved??Set your goals! Make your action plan!SelectionSeeking information about employers and open positionsInterviewContacting employersApplicationsPhone callsCareer Services, University of Oulu

3. Application documents(application & CV)”Style”Speaks about applicant’s attitude and motivesConcers both application documents (layout) and applicant’s behaviour and dressing up (appearance) in an interview situationContentApplicant’s acquaintance, expertiseEmployer gets the information he/she needs to support selection process and decision makingReadability and clear structure helps them to find the accurate informationCorrect grammar and linguistic form, no misspellings

4. THE APPLICATION(a.k.a. coverpage)

5. Application makes the first impression! Emphasize your skills and know-how related certain job and it’s requirementHighlight your personalityTailor your application to fit into each positionAdduce the additional value you can bring for the jobRemember to be truthfulIf the job announcement is in Finnish, make a application in Finnish (but only if you can Finnish!)

6. Goodapplication is……seemly and relavantThinkwhatkind of pictureyouwant the employer to buildfromyou

7. Read the announcementcarefully – whataretheylooking for?

8. Behonest and truthful, don’t ”over-sell”

9. Try to putyourself to employer’s position – whytheyshouldhireyou?…clearBothoutfit and content

10. ”Normal” fonts,fontsize and margins

11. Payattention to the logicalorder of issues…shortConcentrate on keyissues

12. Don’tsendcopies of testimonial, diplomasetcunlesasked

13. Max 1 pageGoodapplication is……personalKeepyourownpersonalstyle

14. Ifyourstyledoesnotfit into company’s culture, maybeyoudonotfiteither…

15. Avoidstandardapplications and usedphrases – show thatyouhavepaidattention to thisparticularapplication

16. Humour is allowed, butbecareful with it…giving the employeranswer WHY?Speakingaboutmotivation, whyyouwant to beselected

17. What in yourpersonality, skills and know-how fits into the position and company

18. Ifyoucan show yourenthusiasm – youhavemorechances to bepickedfrom the mass of applicantsCV- CurriculumVitae / Résumé -

19. Good CV is……clear - both layout and structure…readable and well-defined …not too long (max. 2 pages)…updated (no old dates)…tailored for applied position- All the important information should be easily found from the CV -

20. CV mustincludefollowinginformationContact detailsTitle; Curriculum Vitae / CV / ResumePersonal details; Name, date and place of birth Education; in reverse orderDegree, educational institution and major

21. If degree not complited; stage of studies and estimated graduation time, if studies are in final straight

22. If your theses work is related to the applied job, describe the key elements of it

23. Studies abroad; dates and gained experience & know-howCV mustinclude…Work experience; in reverse orderEmployer, time, title. You might want to give key words for job description and responsibilities (at if it’s relevant for the applied job). Make it compact!

24. If you have long work experience, you may outline your experience under subtitles, which helps the employer to find the informations he/she is interested in. For example customer service work, project work, office work…CV shouldincludefollowinginformationOther education;Supplementary education

25. Shorter courses

26. Mention at least those relevant for the applied job. Language skills;Languages and evaluation of your proficiency

27. spoken vs. written

28. You may want to describe your level of language skills by giving examples.CV shouldinclude…IT-skillsPrograms and operating systemsyouarefamiliar with

29. Especiallyspecialskills; programming