This document provides guidance on application documents and interviews for job seeking. It discusses the importance of tailoring application materials like cover letters and CVs to each specific job. Key recommendations include emphasizing relevant skills, being concise at 1-2 pages, and highlighting motivation and fit for the role. The document also outlines common interview questions and advises preparing examples and responses that showcase one's competencies and interests. Employers are not allowed to ask about private matters under Finnish law. Overall, the document stresses customizing materials for each application, demonstrating strong interest and qualifications, and preparing thoroughly for the interview process.

1. C & C Career & CompetenceCareercoachinggroup Session 4 Application documents & interviews Milja Tuomaala & Tiina Hämäläinen, University of Oulu, VALOA-project

2. Job seekingprocess What can you do? What do you want to do? Goal achieved?? Set your goals! Make your action plan! Selection Seeking information about employers and open positions Interview Contacting employers Applications Phone calls Career Services, University of Oulu

3. Application documents(application & CV) ”Style” Speaks about applicant’s attitude and motives Concers both application documents (layout) and applicant’s behaviour and dressing up (appearance) in an interview situation Content Applicant’s acquaintance, expertise Employer gets the information he/she needs to support selection process and decision making Readability and clear structure helps them to find the accurate information Correct grammar and linguistic form, no misspellings

4. THE APPLICATION(a.k.a. coverpage)

5. Application makes the first impression! Emphasize your skills and know-how related certain job and it’s requirement Highlight your personality Tailor your application to fit into each position Adduce the additional value you can bring for the job Remember to be truthful If the job announcement is in Finnish, make a application in Finnish (but only if you can Finnish!)

7. Read the announcementcarefully – whataretheylooking for?

8. Behonest and truthful, don’t ”over-sell”

10. ”Normal” fonts,fontsize and margins

12. Don’tsendcopies of testimonial, diplomasetcunlesasked

14. Ifyourstyledoesnotfit into company’s culture, maybeyoudonotfiteither…

15. Avoidstandardapplications and usedphrases – show thatyouhavepaidattention to thisparticularapplication

17. What in yourpersonality, skills and know-how fits into the position and company

19. Good CV is… …clear - both layout and structure …readable and well-defined …not too long (max. 2 pages) …updated (no old dates) …tailored for applied position - All the important information should be easily found from the CV -

21. If degree not complited; stage of studies and estimated graduation time, if studies are in final straight

22. If your theses work is related to the applied job, describe the key elements of it

25. Shorter courses

27. spoken vs. written

29. Especiallyspecialskills; programming

30. Estimetedlevel of yourskills

31. Ifit’s a IT position, must the informationbedetailedResearch and publishing activities Competence, know-how and strengths Mostsignificantachievements

34. Youmayhavegainedspecialskills and competencesneeded in working life also in yourhobbies.

37. Give name, title, contact details and how this person is related to you

39. Exercise 4.1valuegame The exercise is found on SlideShare; http://www.slideshare.net/VALOA/documents (C&C trainingmaterial)

40. THE INTERVIEW

41. Goals of the Interview Changinginformation – bothsides Evaluation – bothsides How the person wouldadapt into the job/position/team/organization (suitability)

42. Interviewtypes Phone interview Group interview Individual interview Work simulation Aptitude tests / personal estimation Combination of previous

43. Preparting for the Interview Get to know the employer “Why are you interested in us/our organization?” Personal goals & motives Your skills and competence Try to predict what they’ll ask you and outline your answers Give concrete examples on your skills and experiences Try to approach negative things from positive aspects Be consistent and logical Prepare to ask questions Be prepared to be asked about salary expectation Forget all cliches Be yourself!

44. How to prepare… Sleepwellbeforehand Nottoomuchcoffeebefore the interview… Takeyourcertificateswithyou (degreediplomas, testimonials, letters of reference) Be on time!! Dressappropriately (smartcasual) Closeyour mobile phone Bepositive Relax Rememberthat the interviewersarenervoustoo… Don’tbetoomodestortooarrogant Trustyourself!

45. Top 10 – most common questions in jobinterviews Tell us aboutyourself Whatdoyouknowaboutourorganization? Whatareyourstrengths? Whataboutweaknesses? Whatmotivatesyou? Ifeverythinggoes as youhaveplanned – wheredoyouseeyourself in 3 years? Whatdoyoudo on yourfreetime? Whyareyouinterested in thispost? Whyweshouldchooseyou? Is theresomethingyouwouldlike to askfrom us? Career Services, University of Oulu

48. Examples:”Doyouhavesomething to askfrom us…?” What kind expectations you have for employee who will be selected? How could a typical working day look like? What are the most important tasks in this job? What do you think would be the biggest challenges in the job? What kind of possibilities there is for career progression and personal development? How about employees’ possibilities to educate themself further? How is the recruiting process going to continue after the interview? What else…??

49. How to convince the selectors…? BE Yourself - don’t play anyroles Behonest SHOW yourinterest and yourmotivation Express your interest in the job and the company using information you gathered to prepare for the interview BRING OUT yourmotives and yourwilligness to develope and learn DON’T BE vague REMEMBER THE BASICS: Be on time, behavewelland bepolite And remember the eye-contact …It’s ok to benervous!

50. Someotherthings… Speak positively of former employers and co-workers no matter why you left even if you were fired from your last job. When discussing salary, be flexible - avoid naming a specific salary if not asked. If you're too high, you risk not getting the job. If you're too low, you undersell yourself. Answer questions on salary requirements with responses such as, "I'm interested in the job as a career opportunity so I'm negotiable on the starting salary". Negotiate, but don't sell yourself short. Check salary recommendation and salary level data (unions, interest groups, graduate surveys etc.) Let the employer lead into conversations about benefits. Your focus on these items can be a "turn off." But, don't be afraid to ask questions about things that you really need to know. More: http://www.careerknowhow.com/resumes/interviewing.htm

51. Assignment for OUR next C&C meeting Prepare an application and CV for the job that you found for today’s session Bring your application and CV with you to next session