Career Management Skills

Transcription

1 Career Management Skills

2 Welcome to Learning Resources Did you know: we sell stationery in the libraries we can help with your CV we can help you with your referencing you can book PCs you can use Hub PCs on level 2 and 3 at Gardyne from 8am you can scan, print and photocopy in the libraries you can borrow six items at a time you can renew your books online you can watch on line TV (BoB) you can pick up a copy of our guides from any Learning Resources area or go to the Learning Resources Help page on MyLearning for online versions Do you need to improve your study skills? advice on referencing? useful revision strategies? to improve your presentation skills? Are you looking for advice and guidance on academic skills? Ask any member of the Learning Resources team about our dropin service.

3 Contents Contents The best career for you Searching for a job CV Writing Application forms Covering letters. 28 Job interviews This guide will direct you to third party websites, the contents of which Dundee and Angus College has no control over and for which no liability is taken.

4 The best career for you Before you can begin searching for a job you need to have some idea of what sort of area you would like to work in and what types of jobs might be suitable for you. Speak to your tutor They have course-specific job knowledge. Speak to a Careers/Guidance Advisor in Student Services You may not know what career you want to pursue. A careers advisor can help you find out the types of jobs you may enjoy and discuss your career options with you. You can make a guidance appointment at the Advice Centre on your campus by ing guidance@dundeeandangus.ac.uk or asking at Reception. Register for My World of Work Carrying out research into what sort of jobs are available can help you decide the type of career you want to pursue. To search for career ideas on My World of Work (MWOW) visit and select My Career Options. Sentences It is all about you If you have no idea what you would like to do when you leave college, you can start by completing the short interactive tests on the My World of Work website. These short quizzes will help to identify your strengths, interests and ambitions and this will help you to identify the jobs that are most suitable for you. 1 Career Management Skills

5 Identifying your skills Proper nouns Career Management Skills 2

6 Different types of skills There are many ways of talking about skills. To make it easier, we have developed four categories that will help you to determine where your particular skills lie. Developing your skills Below are two approaches to developing your employment skills. The first is an example of when the skill is linked to the job you currently have: 3 Career Management Skills

7 The second example is for when you are trying to pick up new skills that would be relevant to a job you want: Transferable skills Transferable skills are the skills that you often already possess such as being punctual and are considered valuable by employers. These are the skills that you can use in a variety of roles and sectors. They can be general or specific and can come from previous jobs, projects, voluntary positions, work experience, sport, your home life, hobbies and interests. The top five transferable skills that employers look for are: Communicating with people explaining your ideas and opinions clearly, being good at listening, presenting information or being able to persuade others Finding solutions to problems able to look at a situation and identify what is causing the problem or issue, then developing a solution and not being put off if something goes wrong Career Management Skills 4

8 Planning and organising good at deciding which tasks are important, able to make plans to ensure work gets done on time, able to avoid distractions Working as part of a team good at co-operating with other people, able to understand how you can contribute to your team and support other team members Taking the lead able to take responsibility for your own work without waiting to be told what to do, motivated to look for ways to improve things Now that you understand the importance of skills, let us look at how you actually search for a job. Searching for a job Whether you are looking for a new job or an apprenticeship, you need to know about the different methods that employers use to advertise their positions. There are various ways of trying to find job advertisements including: 5 Career Management Skills

9 Social networking sites - LinkedIn, Twitter, Gumtree & Facebook Access company websites and look out for recruitment advertisements. Remember, if you are contacting people through networking sites, keep all communication formal. See Writing a formal section for further information. Follow safety guidelines provided by both the College and the potential employer s website when using social networking sites. Speculative applications , telephone, send a letter or visit a number of employers on the offchance that they might have a vacancy. Remember, many vacancies never get advertised. Check the local press for firms that are expanding in your local area. Even if they have no current vacancies, they may retain your details for future opportunities. Local newspapers Check out the Positions Available section in Friday s Courier and Monday s Evening Telegraph. You can also look at the national papers recruitment sections for a variety of jobs across the country. Recruitment agencies Recruitment agencies are used by employers to help find suitable candidates for job vacancies. Some agencies specialise in certain areas of work. You can register with an agency and they will keep your CV on file for any suitable vacancies that arise. They may ask you to attend an interview before they pass on your details to potential employers. You should not rely exclusively on agencies as your only means of finding a job. Be aware, some agencies will charge you for their services. Career Management Skills 6

10 Word of mouth/ Recommendation Let people know you are looking for a job/apprenticeship. Talk to friends, family, past employers and teachers. Jobcentre Plus Universal Jobmatch Visit the main government site at to search for the latest vacancies in your area, the UK and abroad. The National Apprenticeship Services Go to the main apprenticeships website on to register your interest and to search for vacancies. Company websites Some companies or organisations, for example hotel chains, the BBC or Dundee and Angus College advertise jobs on their own websites. Current vacancies will be placed on these websites allowing you to search for jobs within their organisations. You can bookmark websites in your internet browser so you can refer to them again. Some organisations allow you to sign up for alerts so that when a new job is posted on their website you are automatically sent an alerting you to the new vacancy. My World of Work To search for jobs on My World of Work visit and go to the section Getting a job. 7 Career Management Skills

11 Reading job adverts When searching for a job you will need to look over adverts and pick out the ones which are of interest. Look for: Finally, it is really important to remember once you start actively searching for a job, that the search is conducted and managed in an organised way. One example of an organised job search is as follows: Career Management Skills 8

12 CV writing The term CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, which is Latin for course of life. A CV provides an overview of your work experience, achievements, skills and qualifications and can be sent to potential employers when applying for jobs, sometimes in addition to an application form. CVs can also be sent on a speculative basis to enquire about the possibility of a job or work experience even when there are no posts advertised. Your CV should always be tailored to the job you are applying for. It is a common mistake to send out the same version of your CV when applying for many different jobs. For further information on the purpose of a CV please visit: Did you know you can borrow books on CV writing from the College libraries or make an appointment to speak to someone in Student Services about your CV? Writing your CV or application form Your CV or application form should always be written using formal English. The information in your CV or application form should be: 9 Career Management Skills

13 What to include in your CV Full name, address, mobile number and address List and date all previous education, starting with the most recent Include things like working as part of a team, managing people, customer service or specific IT skills This can include work experience, voluntary positions or previous jobs. Add the most relevant and recent positions and examples of how you used the skills you list in that role Two people who can provide positive comments on your previous employment or experiences. Make sure that you ask for their permission first. Keeping it relevant The information you include in your CV or application form must be relevant to the job you are applying for. Employers need to know that you will be capable of doing, or learning to do, all aspects of a specific job. When writing a CV or application form you should: Career Management Skills 10

14 Read the job description carefully and continually refer to it whilst writing your application If it helps, make a check list of all the requirements of the job role to ensure you cover as many as possible and make sure your experience and skills are relevant Use the exact terms stated in the job description to describe your own skills and experience Carry out some background research about the employer Even if you have not had many jobs, the skills you develop whilst at college, undertaking work experience or in your personal life can be relevant to the jobs you are applying for. Remember these are your transferable skills. 11 Career Management Skills

15 If you take the time to read about the employer and the job role when making an application, you will already have done some of your preparation should you be asked to attend an interview. How to lay out a CV Your CV should be neatly laid out and easy to follow. There are two main ways of organising the information on your CV that use different layouts to highlight your most relevant strengths and achievements. These are the skills based and the employment based CV templates. Skills based CV This type of CV emphasises your soft skills, personal qualities, work experience and life experiences rather than your employment. It is usually suitable for school leavers, students and graduates. Soft skills Employers are always looking for soft skills or workplace skills. Of all the skills and qualities you have, these are the ones employers want to hear about most. The table below shows a list of skills you should consider either in your application or before attending an interview. Remember that all of these skills are transferable and can be used in other aspects of life: Career Management Skills 12

16 Personal qualities Personal qualities are the characteristics that best describe you as a person. You may be asked to demonstrate an understanding of the qualities you have in an interview or on an application form and how you have used them in a real situation. For example: One of my qualities is being punctual, I can demonstrate this by my excellent record of always being on time for my classes and appointments. Here are some examples of positive personal qualities: Life experiences Outside work and education, everyone develops skills through life experiences. This could be through a particular hobby or interest, through voluntary work or through being a member of a club or society. Your experiences can also provide you with examples of times where you have demonstrated particular personal qualities. Do not be shy about giving examples. Employers will be looking for you to describe your qualities as well as demonstrate them, so examples are essential. 13 Career Management Skills

17 But I m not good at anything Consider the following: Employment based CVs This CV will highlight your job specific skills and experience. Job specific skills These are the skills that you will have developed through any work you may have done: full time, part time, work experience placement, etc. It can be anything from painting to answering the phone. You may also hold a formal qualification that demonstrates to employers that your skill in a specific area is at an industry recognised level. Career Management Skills 14

18 Work experience Work experience or work shadowing is when you are invited by an employer to spend a period of time doing unpaid work. Depending on the arrangements, you may get to spend time shadowing an employee. This can give you a great insight into what the job entails. In some situations you may be asked to undertake some work. Either way, work experience can help you decide if you would enjoy and be good at a particular job. Work experience can be invaluable if you know the career you would like to pursue, but have no employment experience in this area. If you apply for a teaching course, for example, you will be required to have shadowed a teacher or, at least, have had some work experience in a school. "But I don t have enough work experience!" 15 Career Management Skills

19 Personal statement For example: As a recent graduate from Dundee and Angus College, with a HNC in Childcare and Early Education, I have undertaken several work placements within local nurseries such as Scallywags and Oranges and Lemons. These placements have enabled me to develop not only specific childcare skills but also a valuable and transferable skillset for this sector. During a placement at Scallywags I worked within the Baby Room contributing to projects such as the award-winning Sensory Garden. I also played a key role in the evaluation of this project, developing a questionnaire suitable for both parents and children, and participated in focus group project meetings. Utilising my excellent communication skills, I developed and maintained successful relationships with the nursery staff and the parents. I am looking to secure a position in a nursery, where I can bring a positive, enthusiastic and caring attitude and develop my current skills further and your organisation is the type of supportive, child focused environment in which I can see myself developing my skills and knowledge. Career Management Skills 16

20 Personal statement for College A personal statement that is written for college is very similar to the one you would use in your CV. The objective of this type of personal statement is to: For more information, advice and support on writing a personal statement for college, please see the link below. Remember that the Learning Resources team are always available in the libraries and learning hubs to answer any questions you might have. Statement-Guidelines.pdf 17 Career Management Skills

21 My World of Work CV builder There is a CV builder tool available on the My World of Work website. Visit and select My CV and then Login/register. CV template The example on the next page illustrates your skills followed by your education. This is particularly useful if you have not had many jobs yet. Remember to tailor your CV to suit the specific job you are applying for. If you would like help formatting or proofing your CV, ask a member of the Learning Resources team. You can also arrange an appointment with a member of Student Services staff. Career Management Skills 18

22 An example of a CV template 19 Career Management Skills

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26 CV top tips Application forms Some employers prefer application forms to CVs. Large employers, for example councils, who are taking on a lot of staff in one go, use them to make sorting through candidates easier. The good thing about job application forms is that they tell you exactly what the employer wants. Unlike a CV, you have got set questions to answer. This can make it easier to match your skills to the job. The downside is trying to describe your life in a series of small boxes. If you are filling in a lot of applications, this can start to feel repetitive, but do not be put off as once you understand the secrets to completing an application form, it will become easier. 23 Career Management Skills

27 Research the company Make sure you understand what they do. This means you can talk about them and how you will fit in in your answers. See Researching an employer section for further information. Get your information ready That is qualifications, skills, strengths and experience you can use your CV to help fill it out. Read the form Check through the instructions carefully and identify which sections you need to fill in. Practise Complete as many dummy forms as you want, or write the answers in a Word document. Make sure you are happy with it before you fill in the final version as some employers may discard your application if it contains too many errors. Read the job description and person specification Pick out key skills and desirable qualities. Think about what you can say about yourself to match each one. What examples could you give? Career Management Skills 24

28 Completing your application forms The first sections of the application will normally ask you to complete your personal information, your qualifications and employment history. Remember that it is important that this information is accurate as employers may ask for references from previous employers or ask to see evidence of your qualifications. You can normally obtain copies of any formal qualifications from the Awarding Body, for example SQA, if you have misplaced the original certificate. They might charge a small admin fee for this service. The main body of the form, Abilities, Skills, Knowledge and Experience, is designed to give you the opportunity to demonstrate to employers that you meet the person specification and job description. This is where your preparation comes in. Compare the skills you have to the ones mentioned on the job description and person specification. The skills section in your My World of Work account can help you identify some of your skills. Try not to simply list them. Instead, give examples of times when you have used those skills. 25 Career Management Skills

29 This is sometimes referred to as a competency-based application. For example, team working may be part of the essential criteria required for the post. If so, give an example outlining when you have successfully worked as part of a team. Depending on how much space you have, provide a bit of detail. To answer, use the STAR technique. Describe a Situation, the Tasks you needed to complete, the Actions you took and the Results you achieved. You will find more about the star technique in the Competency based interview section. By asking for team working skills, the employer wants to know that you can work with others in a team. Show that you are prepared to make an effort to pull your weight, and that you can communicate well. For example: In my part-time job, we had three days to complete our annual stock check. (Situation). We had to count every item of stock accurately, ensuring we stayed on schedule. I was in charge and worked with two colleagues in my department. (Task). Career Management Skills 26

30 I assigned different sections of the stock to each person, along with a target time. Some sections went more quickly so we reorganised our time to help each other out. (Action). By working together and being flexible, we completed the whole task on time. In fact we were the first department to finish. (Result). You may also be asked why do you want to work for this company? Again, your research is important here. It offers you a chance to talk about the employer, the role, and what it is that excites you about it. Online applications Lots of employers now ask you to fill in an application online rather than sending one in. These pointers might help: 27 Career Management Skills

31 One trick to make it easier next time Save a copy of your application form or the text from it, if it is online. This means the next time you have to complete one, you will have some answers ready to tweak for the next job. Covering letters What is a covering letter? A covering letter is sent alongside other documents to provide the recipient with additional information such as an explanation as to why you are sending the enclosed documents and further details about yourself. When applying for a job or sending your CV to a potential employer, the covering letter is your opportunity to make a good first impression. For further information on covering letters please visit: Career Management Skills 28

32 How to lay out a covering letter The following pages show you an example of how to lay out a covering letter. For further guidance about the type of information to include in each section of your covering letter, along with a Word document template, please visit: The first sentence: Depending on the situation, there are a number of ways of starting your covering letter. These include: Using formal English If you are writing to a friend or relative it is fine to use informal, chattier sounding English. If you are writing a covering letter to send with your CV or a job application, it should be written using formal English. This applies to both printed letters and s. It is important your letter is clear, so do not over-complicate your sentences. Ask your tutor or a member of Learning Resources team to read your letter to check that it is easy to understand. 29 Career Management Skills

33 For help describing your work, skills and strengths when writing a covering letter please visit: Avoiding common mistakes The following suggestions can help you avoid errors in your letters: Career Management Skills 30

34 Covering letter template 31 Career Management Skills

35 Writing a formal The same principles for writing a formal letter apply to writing an . However, there are a few additional considerations: Do not write Hello : When writing a formal use Dear A formal is no different to a formal letter and should be written using the same type of language. The layout of your When sending a formal , postal addresses are not required. If you want to lay it out like a formal letter, write it in Word and save it as a PDF. This PDF can then be attached to your . Direct your recipient to the attachments by writing Please find attached in your . Subject box: Put the subject in this box. For example: Application for position of Receptionist. address: Double check the recipient s address is correct. You could ask the recipient to send you an to confirm they have received your . Your address: Create a sensible address for yourself, especially if you will be using this account to send more formal correspondence. Cc box: Cc stands for carbon copy. If you want to send copies of your to others, put their addresses in this box. Please note all recipients will be able to see who else was copied into the . Bcc box: Bcc stands for blind carbon copy. If you want to send copies of your , but do not want the recipients to see who else received it, enter their addresses in the Bcc box. Top tip enter your own address into the Bcc box to check that your has been sent correctly. Career Management Skills 32

36 Attachments: If you are sending a document or an image as an attachment with your , make sure the file size is not too large for ing. Try not to send any files that are larger than 5MB. Unless a particular file type is required, use PDFs as they can be viewed on most computers and tend to have smaller file sizes. Microsoft Office has a save as PDF option. Keep a copy for future reference: Most accounts allow you to create folders for filing s. You can also print a hard copy or save a copy to your computer. Job interviews Having received job applications, an employer will usually invite a shortlist of the top applicants to attend an interview. This is the most common method used by employers to help decide whether or not an applicant is suitable for a job and can be employed. If you are fortunate enough to be selected for an interview, the employer will contact you to let you know when and where it will be. They may also let you know what format the interview will take. 33 Career Management Skills

37 Types of interviews Formal interviews You may be asked to attend a formal interview, during which you could be interviewed by a single person, two people or a panel of people. Unless told otherwise, presume that all interviews are formal, and dress and act appropriately. During a formal interview you will be asked a number of questions, designed to help the interviewers decide if you are the right person for the job. Career Management Skills 34

38 Informal interviews Depending on the job and the employer, you may get asked to attend an informal interview. This means there might only be one or two people interviewing rather than a panel. The interview will probably have a more relaxed atmosphere. If you are attending an informal interview you should still act professionally, dress smartly and be well prepared. Group interviews During a group interview you will usually be given a task alongside other candidates, whilst the employers observe and assess your performance. Phone or Skype interviews Large companies sometimes interview candidates over the phone or online to help them narrow down the number to be interviewed face-to-face. You may also be interviewed over the phone or through Skype if the employers are based too far away for you to travel to an interview. Selection testing Depending on the employer and the job, some companies may ask you to take a test as part of their selection process. Testing can take a variety of forms depending on the job, ranging from practical to personality tests. If you were applying for a job as a chef you may be asked to do a practical cooking test. If you were applying to work in a call centre, you might be required to answer a mock call. Sometimes bar and restaurant interviewees will be asked to serve food or pull a pint. 35 Career Management Skills

39 Top tips for Interviewing Congratulations! Your CV has done its job and you have an interview. Read through this list that offers advice on what to do and what not to do when attending an interview, and visit the MWOW website for further details: Career Management Skills 36

40 Researching the employer Before you go to an interview, it is important to know what you are in for. Researching an employer can give you an idea of what you will be asked about. That gives you a little more confidence going in. It is also a way to show that you are interested in the company. Drop in a little information about them in your answers, and you will seem keen. It shows that you understand what the company is and who they might be looking for. Checking their website: This should be your first stop. Pay particular attention to information about products and services, the About Us section and anything related to the job you are applying for. Check the recruitment section companies often provide a brief description of the type of people they are looking for. Take some notes so that you can review them before you go in to your interview. Finding them on social media: A Twitter or Facebook feed can give you a good idea of what a company s culture is like. You can also look up your interviewer on LinkedIn to get an idea of their work history and see if you share anything in common. Searching other websites: Sites like Glassdoor, Milkround, The Job Crowd, and Inside Buzz feature company profiles. These often have reviews or day in the life accounts from employees that can tell you a bit more about what a company is like. 37 Career Management Skills

41 Look for news: Google their name and check the news results. Look for news about the industry they work in, too. Pay attention to the news on TV and the papers in the run-up to your interview. Show that you are aware of what is going on. Be wary of mentioning negative news stories these might not go down so well. Carry out an informational interview: If you know someone who works in the same industry, ask them about their job. Ask if there are any points they think are important or relevant skills that you can mention. Ask what questions they think might come up. Competency based interviews A competency based interview is one where the interviewer will ask you to provide examples of using specific skills that are required for the role you are applying for. This could mean discussing a time when you provided excellent customer service, or were able to deal with a difficult situation in a professional way. In the video link below, HR manager Ana explains what you can expect from a competency based interview. In this type of interview, the questions are about things you have done in the past. For example, 'Tell me about a time when you faced a difficult situation.' Your answers should provide examples. This gives the employer an idea of how you would behave in a similar situation in the future. Career Management Skills 38

42 How to prepare The employer might tell you in advance what will be covered. If not, look through the job description and identify the skills the role requires. For example, the right candidate will have excellent communication skills and attention to detail. Make a list of competencies you think will come up. For each, try to think of two or three examples from your own experience. Do not just think about work. You could also use examples from school, hobbies, volunteering or even your personal life. Use the STAR technique to structure your answers Situation, Task, Actions and Results. Here is a quick example of the STAR technique: 39 Career Management Skills

43 Talking about negative results Do not be afraid of using examples which did not turn out well. Show what you learned from the experience. Explain what went wrong, why it went wrong and what you would do differently next time. Follow the link below to access a competency based interview on the MWOW website. You will be asked 15 common competency based questions and this will give you an opportunity to practice your responses. Career Management Skills 40

44 Handling interview nerves Your first job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience. As an Early Careers Advisor for BAE Systems Naval Ships, Marie Brennan has helped to recruit hundreds of young people. Here she gives some top tips for interviews, to help you impress employers. It is all about attitude 'When you're applying for an entry level position the interviewer will generally be looking at your employability level. That is, your personal attributes and your skills. Employers are not expecting you to know everything at the outset. But, if they see you as someone with a positive attitude they will be more willing to give you a chance as you will be open to learning.' First impressions matter 'Switch your phone off, or on silent. You don t want it distracting you or the interviewer. Dress smart, don t slouch, your body language should show you are keen and interested in the process and wanting to present a positive image of yourself. Good personal presentation shows you take pride in yourself, and to employers this is a general indicator you will also take pride in your work.' How to prepare 'Before the interview think of some examples from your everyday life to show what type of skills you can bring to the workplace. Just saying you have a skill is not enough, so prepare examples beforehand. Remember you will have a lot of experience from school and your hobbies you can draw from. For example, being an active member of a club can show you have commitment. Also, if you have a part time job, this shows work ethic, time management and a level of responsibility showcasing your skills. 41 Career Management Skills

45 For example: Shaping your answers 'When you're preparing for an interview, the STAR model can be really useful. It helps to shape your answer and ensures you stay on track and answer the question. If you're asked a question you are not sure of don t be afraid to ask for clarification, this actually shows confidence and good listening skills and shows the interviewer you're thoughtful and you're not afraid to interact with other people. The questions are simply your opportunity to showcase all those skills you have, so don t fear them.' And finally 'If you have prepared then you can go into the interview with confidence. You may still be nervous and that s OK. It's to be expected and the interviewer will try to put you at ease to allow you to have a good experience. Remember, even if you re really prepared, interviews can still make you nervous. Career Management Skills 42

46 Tackling tough questions Interview questions can be difficult to answer when you feel unprepared. Here are some examples of commonly asked interview questions with some suggested answers to help you get ready for a successful interview. 43 Career Management Skills

47 And finally, here is an example of some of the more unexpected questions you might be asked! Career Management Skills 44

48 The interview skills top Career Management Skills

49 Notes Career Management Skills 46

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52 This guide is available in other formats. Contact for more information. You may use this material under the CC licence shown. August 2016