The University of Kent Careers Advisory Service COMPUTING APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS

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The University of KentCareers Advisory
ServiceCOMPUTING APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS

• You can download a copy of this presentation at
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

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I.T. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW

• Technical knowledgeQuick Learner
• PlanningEstablishing priorities and scheduling
  time. Well organised.
• ProductivityProfessionalism - "completing
  projects on time".
• Quality of work"On schedule, under budget, works
  first time
• Self DevelopmentTeaching yourself new skills!
• Communication Presentation skills, Clear,
  concise, documentation.

• Teamwork
• Problem Solving and JudgementComing up with
  effective solutions
• Innovation and ChangeReceptivity to new ideas.
  "Flexible designs that can withstand last minute
  changes"
• AdministrationDocumentation - "Much of software
  development involves writing things down and
  looking them up again"

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Gartner Research

• IT Professionals who maintain only a technical
  toolbox will be at risk.
• Executives will seek out and elevate IT
  professionals who demonstrate knowledge of how
  the company can apply technology to achieve
  business goals.

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COMPUTING CVS

• List all the relevant modules (plus marks if
  good!)
• Projects especially if relevant
• Programming languages/operating systems/major
  applications
• Soft skills evidence of teamwork, project
  management, problem solving etc.

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THE COVERING LETTER

• First Paragraph
• State the job youre applying for.
• Where you found out about it.
• When you're available to start work ( end if
  it's a placement)
• Second Paragraph
• Why your interested in that type of work
• Why the company attracts you (if it's a small
  company say you prefer to work for a small
  friendly organisation!)

• Third Paragraph
• Summarise your strengths and how they might be an
  advantage to the organisation.
• Relate your skills to the job.
• Last Paragraph
• Mention any dates that you won't be available for
  interview
• Thank the employer and say you look forward to
  hearing from them soon.

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EMAILING CVS

• Many employers are happy to accept CVs as an
  attachment to an email.
• Put your covering letter as the body of your
  email. Format it as plain text (use the format
  heading on Outlook Express to do this), so it can
  be read by any email reader.
• Your CV is then sent as an attachment, in MS Word
  format, Rich Text (.rtf) or html format are
  acceptable. Say you'll send a printed CV if
  required.
• Email it back to yourself first to check it.

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CV Examples

• You will need a CV for smaller organisations
  see
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm
• MSc Computer Science CV
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/msccompcv.htm

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IF YOU HAVE A "HOLE" IN YOUR CV ....

• Often youre hired as much for your problem
  solving skills as for your knowledge of a
  particular language. Emphasise your ability to
  learn - once you know one or two languages you
  can be confident that, given a manual, access to
  a compiler, and a little time, you can learn a
  new language in a few weeks. e.g.
• "I have a limited knowledge of C but have a
  thorough knowledge of Java. There are few new
  concepts and I'm confident I can learn to write
  well-structured and efficient C in a short time."
  
• "It's true I haven't learned PL/1, but I've
  learned two other procedural languages - PASCAL
  and Java - which share the same data types and
  control structures. More valuable to you and
  harder to acquire are my problem solving skills,
  which I can apply in any language."

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On-line Applications

• Make your draft to difficult questions on a
  word-processor - can cut and paste using using
  CTRLC (copy) and CTRLV (paste) keys. Your work
  is safe and you can reuse answers in other
  applications. Can also spell and grammar check.
• Don't use the informal English you would use in
  an email - use the same good quality English you
  would use on a paper form - concise, to the
  point, but with lots of evidence to show relevant
  skills.

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On-line Applications

• See On-line applications web page
  www.kent.ac.uk/careers/onlineapps.htm
• On-line Applications Video/DVD (25 minutes). Very
  good. Ask at Careers Reception to see this. Can
  be viewed in small groups 3 to 4 people. Also
  applications, interviews and selection centre
  videos/DVDs. We now have a DVD you can borrow.

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Competency Questions

• The hardest part of the form for most applicants
  - asking for examples of specific skills such as
  teamwork, leadership, problem solving e.g.
• Describe how your personal planning and
  organisation resulted in the successful
  achievement of a personal or group task.
• Give an example of where others have disagreed
  with your views. How did you deal with this?

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Competency Questions

• Answers could come from
• vacation or part-time work
• university clubs and societies
• voluntary work
• study at school or university especially
  projects
• holidays and travel or personal and family
  experiences. Planning and organising a weeks
  independent travel in Scotland is as valid an
  example as a trek through the Himalayas.

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The STAR Approach

• One way of answering these questions is via the
  STAR approach - Situation, Task, Action and
  Result.
• It's a bit like a mini essay. The Situation and
  Task are usually combined and form the
  introduction
• The Action you took, should form the main body of
  your answer
• The Result should be your conclusion

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The STAR Approach

• S Whilst employed at Weaver Bros. last summer
• T I was given the task of rationalising the stock
  control system
• A I would look at factors such as when the stock
  was last ordered, what it was used for and how
  often it was used. I worked out a method of
  streamlining the paperwork involved in this
  process and redesigned the relevant forms, which
  I then submitted to my manager.
• R My ideas were accepted and implemented and a
  15 reduction in stock levels was achieved"

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APPLICATION FORMS

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htmAPPLICATION
• COMPUTING APPLICATION FORM
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/scienceitaf.htm

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Vacancy Sources

• Kent Vacancies Lists www.kent.ac.uk/careers/vaclis
  t.htm
• Prospects Web www.prospects.ac.uk
• Careers Fairs
• Hobson's/Target/Inside Careers Directories
• Recruitment Agencies
• Speculative CVs to IT Employers

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EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS AND CAREERS TALKS

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm
• NAME, SUBJECT AND YEAR TO careertalks_at_kent.ac.uk
  IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THESE PRESENTATIONS

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Duty Careers Adviser

• A Duty Careers Adviser is available to help with
  queries between 10.30 am - 12.30 p.m. and 2.00 -
  5.00 p.m. every weekday.
• No appointment needed - just drop in.
• Im normally on duty TUESDAY MORNINGS (10.30 am -
  12.30 pm) and WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS
  (2.00 - 5.00 pm).

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The University of Kent Careers Advisory Service

• You can download a copy of this presentation at
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

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Top 11 Technical Skills Computer Weekly Magazine
Survey

• SQL
• C
• Unix
• Oracle
• Windows NT
• C

• Java
• MS Office
• Visual Basic
• SQL Server
• SAP