USEFUL HINTS
Résumé
Your résumé should be well set out. The heading should include your name, address, phone, fax, email, experience and education plus any others you wish to add. Get someone who knows you well to check your résumé for spelling and grammar, readability and content. Never hand write a résumé, unless it is specifically asked for. Your résumé must be clearly readable and, if possible, in a basic font, like Times New Roman or Arial to make sure it prints nicely if you’re submitting it electronically.
Just remember, when preparing a résumé:
- Keep it brief and to the point.
- Keep the paragraphs short and space them out. Make the headings clear and leave plenty of space on each page.
- Focus on your skills and achievements, not just your past experience and tasks you did.
- Focus on what you can offer to the potential employer.
- You don’t need to include personal details such as your marital status or age unless specifically requested and required for the job.
Referees and References
On your résumé you should nominate the names of a couple of referees.
Make sure that you let referees know about any positions you have applied for so they are prepared to support your application.
A reference is a written statement by someone who can vouch for your character, skills and abilities, such as a previous employer, a teacher or family friend. The reference is normally in the form of a letter and copies of references may be attached to your résumé when you apply for jobs, or may be provided if requested.
Addressing Selection Criteria
- Use each selection criterion as a heading.
- Focus on key words in each criterion and address everything in each criterion. For instance, if you are addressing a criterion that asks you to demonstrate your knowledge, you might write about how and where you got that knowledge, for example, by attending a course or through past experience.
- Use dot points wherever possible.
- Give actual examples of what you have done in the past to support your claims.
- Wherever possible, focus on what you actually achieved.
Some people use the SAO technique:
- S ituation: Where and when did you do it?
- A ction: What did you do and how did you do it?
- O utcome: What was the result of your actions?
Others use the STAR technique:
- S ituation.
- T ask.
- A ction.
- R esponse.
Tips for the Interview
Some tips to help you prepare for an interview:
- Re-read the job description and selection criteria. Think about how you would actually do the job and how you might solve any problems that could come up. Have some examples ready of where you have used the relevant skills and abilities.
- Dress according to the position that you have applied for.
- Remember, all interview questions will be related to the selection criteria. The same questions will be asked of every applicant to make sure all applicants are treated equally.
- Sometimes you may receive the interview questions on arrival, so make sure you are ten to fifteen minutes early.
- Don’t assume the panel knows anything about your abilities – even if you have worked with them in the past.
- Take time to answer each question, but be concise. Where possible relate your answer to relevant past experiences.
- An interview is an information exchange - you are allowed to ask questions too.
- Take a copy of your application to the interview.
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