Workshop Part 1

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Workshop Part 1

• You are a busy Human Resources person
• You have been given the job of finding out about
  job applicants from their applications and their
  resumes
• Imagine you have 750 to go through today (100 per
  hour)

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Workshop Part 1

• For each applicant you have a form to fill out
• Your task is to find all the required information
  from the letter of application and the resume in
  as short a time as possible

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Workshop Part 1

• As you find each piece of information you tick
  that you have found it
• Normally you would also indicate if the person is
  suitable
• For the exercise today we just want to find the
  information and not worry about whether or not
  the applicant meets the criteria or not

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Workshop Part 1

• As you find the information
• Tick the form for that line
• Note that you are only looking for the applicant
  referring to the criteria, not if the person
  meets the criteria

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Workshop Part 1

• Note that there is a common area on the form
• And two separate tables for the different
  positions
• To start the exercise you will swap your sheet of
  paper and your application and your resume with
  another member of the class when you are told to
  do so.

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Workshop Part 1

• Remember that there are two possible job
  applications
• Using what is on the application only, fill in
  the workshop form
• When you have filled in the two appropriate
  tables completely, write down the number that is
  on the overhead

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Workshop Part 1

• Do not talk to the person you swapped with while
  carrying out this exercise
• This is important
• Are there any questions before we start?
• OK, ready to go!

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Workshop Part 1

• How many people are still searching for the
  information?
• How many have written a number over 6?
• How many have written a number 6 and under?
• Each number is equal to 30 seconds

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Workshop Part 1

• Why is timing important?
• Your reader (your audience) has to find the
  information as quickly as possible
• 100 applications per hour is almost two a minute!
• You need your reader to find the information as
  quickly as possible

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Workshop Part 1

• The longer it takes to find the information where
  the applicant addresses the criteria, the less
  chance they have of being considered
• Losing on the grounds of
• poor communication skills,
• being unable to follow instructions, and
• perhaps being suspect of hiding something

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Workshop Part 2

• On my website are suggestions for
• Resume writing
• Addressing the criteria
• Covering letter
• I wont cover everything here today but will
  concentrate on some common problems

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Workshop Part 2

• Resume
• 2 to 4 pages
• Relevance! Relevance! Relevance!
• Include things that show how you have the desired
  skills
• Sometimes this can extend to hobbies and sport
  (but usually not)
• Some excellent references on the web page

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Workshop Part 2

• Resume
• Remains pretty static but check the slant
• Make an assessment of what you think is important
• Make any outside activities relevant eg volunteer
  work, management and leadership skills
• Dont use it as a filler
• Mention professional body membership

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Workshop Part 2

• Covering letter
• This is what the HR person reads
• It must get their attention!
• They may not know much about IT or IT jargon
• They will filter the applications
• You need to sell yourself to them

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Workshop Part 2

• Covering letter
• What job are you applying for?
• Why are you applying?
• Address the criteria
• Use a format to really make each element stand
  out
• This might make it a couple of pages long
• Sometimes put in another document

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Workshop Part 2

• Covering letter
• Do some research and sell yourself in the cover
  letter!
• What is it that made you apply for the position?
• Why is this company special?
• Why do you want this job?
• Dont make it look as if the job is just a
  stopgap

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Workshop Part 2

• Answer the questions!!!
• Do this in your covering letter, not the resume.
• Address all the criteria even if you do not have
  one or two items.
• You might still be the best one of the whole
  lot!!!!

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Workshop Part 2

• Take care of your projected image
• Dont be flippant you want to be taken
  seriously.
• Dont use form letters make it special.
• Be upbeat and confident
• Be truthful
• What is appropriate/inappropriate?

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Workshop Part 2

• Watch the detail
• Cover all the criteria!!!!
• Spellcheck
• Grammar check!
• Edit it over and over again
• Referees

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Workshop Part 2

• Contact
• Will you be away for any time?
• Do you care if your kid sister/brother takes the
  call?
• Can you depend on your kid brother/sister?

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Workshop Part 2

• Resume Covering Letter
• How much is enough?
• How terse should it be?
• What evidence should be enclosed?

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Workshop Part 2

• Now do a sanity check
• Would you interview you based on the application?

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Workshop Part 2

• Now go through the interview
• Practice in front of a mirror
• Pick up annoying habits
• Watch out for body language that is defensive,
  makes you look uncomfortable, aggressive, dont
  care or arrogant.
• Project an image of quiet confidence, enthusiasm
  for the job, preparedness, openness, honesty and
  intelligence.

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Workshop Part 2

• Record yourself answering questions
• Video is best
• Dont feel you have to rush
• Dont be afraid of silence/preparing an answer
  (look considered rather than Im making it up
  right now)

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Workshop Part 2

• Youve got to look like you want the job
• Dress appropriately
• Be prepared for obvious questions
• Be prepared for questions you dont know the
  answers to
• Dont know is ok

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Workshop Part 2

• You may be being tested and not expected to know.
  Your response is what they are looking for.
• Be truthful

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Workshop Part 2

• Be prepared with your own questions
• Training
• Teamwork/individual work
• Type of projects
• Size of teams
• Potential for advancement/different types of work