Delphine Garr Workforce Development & Learning Manager Barnet Council

1. Children’s Service Careers Fair: 8th March 2012Getting started with CVs and Interviews Delphine Garr Workforce Development & Learning Manager Barnet Council

2. Three key things to remember • Companies/organisations are in business to make money • Companies and you are both alike • There are buyers markets (advantage: prospective employer) and there are sellers markets (advantage: prospective employees • Operating efficiently in a seller’s market requires knowing who, where and what your buyers are in the market for

3. Where to look for jobs • Internet / websites: www.barnetpossibilities.co.uk • Jobs.barnet.gov.uk • Job centres • Newspapers( local and national) • Employment Agencies • Volunteer bureaux • Careers fairs • Networking, word of mouth

4. Getting started with your CV • Package your CV in a positive way to suit the job • The goal of the CV is to portray you as highly efficient and a good problem solver • CVs should generally be: • Forward thinking / future oriented • Short legible and use familiar words • Get someone to read through it • Keep a copy of your application.

5. What to include in your CV • Name and contact details • Personal statement • Qualification and training • Skills and achievements (including work experience) • Additional information – draw attention to your skills and experience • References / referees • Dealing with gaps on CVs – use application forms

6. Some useful words for CVs • Committed, co-ordinated, customers, colleagues • Efficient, effective, enthusiastic, experienced • Hardworking, honest, initiative, knowledge • Managed, negotiated, organised, • Professional, proficient, punctual, qualifications • Reliable, responsible, self-directed, skills • Successfully, supervised, supportive, tasks, team player • Trustworthy

7. Preparation before interview • Do some research - find out as much as you can about the job, the organisation, what they do and their priorities • Read the job advert and person specification several times to get a good sense of the kind of person they are looking to recruit • Match your skills and experience to job • Prepare any questions you may want to ask about the job – it may not be appropriate to ask about salary

8. Basic interview questions • Often an opportunity to sell yourself - some questions may seem simple on the surface • The more open-ended the question, the wider the variation in answers so use your accomplishments • Use questions as a launching pad to tell your success stories – use specific examples

9. Basic interview questions (2) • Why do you want this job / why should we hire you? • What relevant experience and skills do you have / what can you do for us that someone else can’t do? • What are your strengths and weaknesses? • Have you got careers gaps that need explaining (think about your explanation and rehearse this carefully)? • Where do you want to be in the next five years • There may be questions from your application too.

10. During the interview • Always maintain an interested and positive outlook • keep a good eye contact and speak clearly • show you are listening carefully to questions • Ask for clarification or a repeat of unclear questions • demonstrate commitment, enthusiasm and energy • Include your strengths – working to deadlines • Everyone has a weakness – make it positive • Ask questions – when will the job start etc?

11. Critical success factors • Professional jobs are becoming more complex and the competition is very great – invest some time in your application and be serious • Your career is more like a marathon, not a sprint – you will need a lot of stamina and tactics; so make a commitment to manage your career – on-going learning and development • Job changes/opportunities may come along, sometimes unexpectedly, be prepared to make that strategic move and go for the kill by taking control of your professional destiny • Package yourself as a highly desirable professional • Put finishing touches and regularly update.

12. What is your next step? • Take action today

13. Children’s Service Careers Fair: 8th March 2012Thank you and good luck!