Applying for jobs + interview skills

Curriculum Vitae

When applying for a job, you may be asked to provide your 'CV', or Curriculum Vitae. A CV should include your full name, the suburb you live in, a summary of your secondary, tertiary or any other education, and a brief description of any previous work experience.

Remember, you can record on your CV any work experience done at school, any voluntary work, or any work done with family businesses. Try not to make your CV longer than it needs - if it is too long, an employer many not read it. An ideal length for a CV is one or two pages if possible.

Employers often include a selection criteria for the position. If there is criteria make sure that you write a point that relates to each criteria point, providing information about how you feel you meet the specified criteria. You can do this as part of the cover letter or as a separate document called a supporting statement.

In the cover letter, you should summarise the reasons why you think you are the best person for the job. A cover letter is an opportunity to tell a potential employer a little more about yourself than you have room for in your CV. Again, try to keep your letter short, no more than one page.

Job interviews

These can sometimes be stressful and tense experiences. You may have to talk to one person, or a whole group. Sometimes you will be asked easy questions about yourself and your experience, other times you may be asked to solve problems.

 
Because it is often hard to predict what the interview will be like, some preparation beforehand will enable you to respond more quickly to the situation. Make sure you can easily recite your CV, and answer in-depth questions about your skills and experience.

Think about your strengths and your weaknesses - this is a common interview question! When thinking about a weakness, try and use one that can have a positive spin, for example "I am sometimes a bit of a perfectionist". This type of answer shows that you acknowledge weakness, however is something that is not always seen as a weakness. Ask a friend to help you practice some questions and answers before you go in.

 
Another interview technique is competency based questions. These are questions that focus on a set list of skills employers are looking for in their such as time management, customer service etc. An example of a competency based question is "Describe a situation where you felt you couldn't meet a deadline and how you resolved the situation?" These questions help show an employer how you cope with situations you may be exposed to within the job you are being interviewed for. Try and think about your previous work/school experience before attending an interview so you have some answers ready for questions like these.

But most of all, try to remain calm and focused. Breathe deeply if you are nervous. Sometimes you may have to go to many interviews before you get a job. Every interview increases your experience, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't do so well. Congratulate yourself on getting as far as the interview, and try not to put pressure on yourself about getting the job.