Gemma Minish

1. 1 /
Gemma Minish- Campus Marketing Manager
Making successful applications & interview tips

2. 2 / Overview
 Why do employers use applications?
 Why is it important to make a good
application
 Examples
 Interview / application hints and tips
 Questions
Corporate Communications December 2010

3. 3 / Why do employers use applications?
 First stage sort & ‘killer questions’
 Demonstrate your skills or ‘competencies’
 Compare you to the competencies required
 Ensure consistency in the process e.g. all
candidates are asked the same question.
Myth! Most employers do not use
a computer to screen applications.
Corporate Communications December 2010

4. 4 / Why is it important to make a good application?
 Your first chance to sell yourself
 Demonstrates your written communication
 Shows your interest in the company you are
applying to
 Rubbish application = NO JOB!
Corporate Communications December 2010

5. 5 / Application questions
 What has attracted you to this opportunity?
 Please explain why you are suitable for this
role?
 Strengths/weaknesses
 Competency questions
Rarely will you be asked technical
questions on an application form.
Corporate Communications December 2010

6. 6 / Example: What has attracted you to this opportunity?
What has attracted you to this opportunity at Thales?
‘Thales is a huge international company which has lots of different
project using different technologies. I would love to work for such
an innovative and forward thinking company that touches people’s
lives everyday. I have researched the company and there are lots
of interesting projects that I would like to be involved in. I am very
keen to develop my skills and I believe that Thales would support
me in doing this. I have been interested in Engineering since a
very young age and so I was instantly attracted to this role. I have
been studying computer science and I would like the opportunity to
put my coding skills into practice. I believe that their would be
plenty of opportunities for growth for graduates in such a customer
focussed company.’
Corporate Communications December 2010

7. 7 / Application questions- rating scale used at Thales
1= Fails to meet the requirements
2= Fails to meet the requirements,
needs some improvement
3= meets the requirement, some
areas for improvement
4= meets the requirements
5= Exceeds the requirements
Corporate Communications December 2010

8. 8 / Practical Exercise
What rating would you give the example?
 Think about what is good about the example
 Think about what is bad about the example
 E.g. anything missing? Spelling & Grammar.
 Is there anything that could be improved?
Corporate Communications December 2010

9. 9 / Practical Exercise
How would we rate this example?
This example would
not pass!
2
Corporate Communications December 2010

10. 10 / Example: Positives/Negatives and Improvements
Negatives/Improvements
 The answer is generic and doesn’t mention anything that is
specific to Thales. The Example could have been written about
any large engineering firm
 If the candidate has researched the company then they should
be able to name and specify the projects of interest.
 What has led the candidate to believe that Thales is interested in
developing them? They could mention our GDP or our values.
 Spelling and grammatical mistakes
Positives/Improvements
 The candidate has mentioned their interests and refers to the
role they are applying to, however this could be elaborated on.
Corporate Communications December 2010

11. 11 / What should I include?
Ensure your answer is specific to the company you are
applying to. Give specific examples
What interests you about the company in particular?
What interests you about the role you are applying to?
If you are applying to a Graduate Development
Programme then mention this.
If you are applying for an internship talk about the benefits
of doing this.
Mention how your skills/experience relate to the role.
Check your spelling and grammar.
Corporate Communications December 2010

12. 12 / Interviews
Why interview?
It works BOTH ways
Chance to meet you in person and get a complete picture of
you.
For you to find out more about the organisation
Invitation to interview means they already think you
are good enough for the job/placement

13. 13 / Interview format
 Could be from 20 mins to a whole day
 Can be over the telephone or face to face
 1 to 1, sequential or panel
 Sometimes 2 rounds (different days)
 Introduction, Discussion, Tour
 Practical task e.g. presentation
 Part of an assessment centre
Types of interview:
• Autobiographical
• Competency
• Strengths based

14. 14 / Interviews
Before the interview:
 Research the companies values and the competencies they are
looking for.
 Research the company, competitors, customers etc..
 Decide on what to wear, be smart!
 Travel arrangements
 Look at example questions and prepare examples in advance
 Look at the job description and think about how you match this.
- Academic knowledge
- Work experience
- Internships/placement
- Volunteering
- Societies

15. 15 / Competency Interviews
Interviews are often competency based
 Employers will be measuring you against
preselected criteria or competencies:
Communication
Analytical
Leadership
Taking responsibility
Planning and organising
Interpersonal skills
Resilience
Problem Solving
What are competency questions?

16. 16 / Star Approach
‘Give an example of a time when…’
Use the STAR approach
 Situation
 Task (the objective)
 Action (what I did, what others did)
 Result
To describe clearly and concisely what YOU did
(even in team situation)
Use real examples to analyse how you behaved in
a certain situation in the past.

17. 17 / Example
During my first year at university I was
involved in a group project with 4 other
students. (S) Our task was to evaluate
a prototype MP1 Parallel Computer. (T)
We met together regularly to allocate
tasks and share progress. I wrote the
driver and application software using
the Transputer Development
Programme. Other members of the team
did the testing. (A) The result was that
we achieved 70% for our project. (R)
Corporate Communications December 2010

18. 18 / Practical Exercise
Prepare a brief example of team working
 Use STAR approach
 What would you have done differently?
 What were your challenges?
Corporate Communications December 2010

19. 19 / Other questions
About you
Why do you want this placement?
Why should the organisation select you?
What are your ambitions?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What have you gained from your degree?
What skills have you gained from work
experience/extra curricular activities?
Corporate Communications December 2010

20. 20 / Other questions
About the organisation/sector
What do you know about this firm/business
function/sector/industry?
What attracts you to it?
What kind of training/additional skills do
you hope to gain?
Who are our main competitors/customers?
What do you think about the latest news
on…?
Corporate Communications December 2010

21. 21 / Takeaways
 Research the company
 Prepare for the interview- practice!
 Research competency questions
 Think about your skills/experience
 Dress smart
 Travel arrangements- be on time!
 Be confident!
Corporate Communications December 2010

22. 22 / Further information
http://ukgrads.thalesgroup.com/s
earch-jobs-and-apply/hints-and-
tips.aspx
Questions…