Advice for job applicants

The Equate CareerHub is Scotland’s first recruitment website targeting women in science, engineering, technology and the built environment. On the CareerHub you will find employers actively looking to address the gender imbalance in Scotland’s STEM sectors and address the skills shortage by recruiting and retaining more women.

Whether you’re looking to take the first, or the next, step in your career, here, you can find some useful hints and tips on writing a successful job application.

Job applications & personal statements

Job applications

First things first, when filling out a job application make sure you read the job description thoroughly to understand what skills and experience the employer is looking for.

Answer each question individually and don’t assume they know you have certain skills or experience based on your job title or previous experience.

When filling out any job application, always remember STAR.

Situation (How, who, where, when?)
Task         (What was the task you were faced with?)
Action       (What action did you take?)
Result       (What was the result? And what did you learn from the experience?)

Tackling specific questions

Before answering a question, work out what skill the employer is trying to assess.
Don’t just say you have a specific skill, demonstrate how you have used this by providing specific details about where, when and how you acquired and used the skill. Remember STAR.
It is okay to vary your answers, taking them from different areas of your work and experience. If you are a student include work experience, course modules and extra curricular activities.
Highlight your recent experience and achievements as much as possible.

Personal Statement
You may be asked to write a personal statement as part of a job application. A personal statement is where you can demonstrate how you meet all the criteria in the job specification.

Start by printing off the job description and making notes on how you meet the criteria using STAR. This will help you to communicate your skills and experience clearly when you begin to write the body of the statement.

Always start with a positive opening statement, explaining why you are applying for the job and your interest in the organisation. Then go on to explain how you meet the skills and experience outlined in the job description. Try to address as many points on the job description as possible referring back to the notes you made and demonstrate your skills through the STAR method.

Avoid phrases such as ‘I think I am’ or ‘I believe I am’, instead use positive language such as ‘I developed excellent’ or ‘I achieved’, this will make you come across more confident in your skills and experience.

Conclude the statement with a few words summing up why they should employ you.

Remember:

Be clear, concise and always refer back to the job description.
Check all spelling and grammar.
Let your experience and achievements shine through.

Cover letters & CV

Your CV and cover letter are often the first point of contact with an employer, yet many people don’t put in the effort a CV deserves. They think instead they will sell themselves at interview but a good CV will help ensure you get to that stage.

You must tailor your CV and cover letter to the employer and job you are applying for – generic applications stand out for all the wrong reasons.

Key things to remember when putting together a CV:

The font should be no smaller than size 10 and contemporary in style eg Arial or Calibri.
Headings should be highlighted in bold type rather than block capitals.
Use bullet points to highlight your key skills and experience in the work experience and extra-curricular sections.
List your work experience in chronological order.
Don’t include a photo, date of birth or marital status on a UK CV.
Double check all grammar – spelling must be flawless throughout.
Never write your CV in the third person.
If you’re given the opportunity to upload a CV with an application, do so.

For personal statements and cover letters use the STAR method.

For CV’s use the CAR method.

Context
Action
Result

Example:

2011 – 2015 Senior Software Engineer and Project Manager (C)

Developed new commercial applications using JavaScript (A)
Led a team to design and implement a custom-developed SOA platform (A)
Increased the number of public sector clients by 40% in 4 years (R)

Cover letter

Your cover letter should outline your motivation for applying for the role and why you want to work for the company. It should state three things.

1. Why you want this particular job.
2. Why you are right for the role.
3. Why you want to work for the employer.

In short, it should both capture you as a person – your experiences, strengths and abilities – and be very specific to the role.

Similar to the personal statement, use the job description created by the employer and detail how you meet the criteria using the STAR method. This will include your relevant experience, projects, academic experience and other activities relating to your course.

Raising your profile

LinkedIn can be a great tool to network, job search, keeping in touch with previous colleagues and stay up to date with industry news. But it’s not always easy creating a LinkedIn profile that stands out. Below are some tips on how to make your LinkedIn profile standout.

Choose a professional photo
Choose a clear and professional image as your LinkedIn profile picture. If you don’t have one already, take a head and shoulders image with your smart phone, preferably with a white or clear background. If you have a photo of you ‘in action’ you can use that to illustrate your role.
Personalise your headline and summary
Remember your headline doesn’t need to be your job title. Let people know what you are known for (or want to be known for) as soon as they visit your page. Using keywords relevant to your industry makes it easier for employers to find and notice you on LinkedIn. But try avoid meaningless adjectives and overused clichés such as ‘motivated’ and ‘passionate’.
Demonstrate your skills and achievements
Self – promotion can be difficult but it pays to demonstrate your skills and achievements. By highlighting your achievements you are demonstrating your skills and abilities to recruiters and industry professionals. Don’t just include previous work experience – academic achievements, volunteering experience, languages and other skills are just as important.
Use multi media to demonstrate your knowledge and interests
Include images, videos, presentations, links and blog posts to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and interests in a particular area.
Join LinkedIn groups
Engage with industry professionals, colleagues and people with similar interests by joining LinkedIn groups. You can ask questions, comment on posts and share industry news. This can be great way to engage with others in your industry and make new connections.

Interviews

Attending and performing well at interviews can be a daunting prospect. It is important to remember that an interview is not a test that you pass or fail, it is an opportunity to discuss your skills, experience and achievements.

Interview questions

The interviewer will ask questions about your skills and experience in relation to the job description.

Run through the job description and try and predict what questions they will ask. They may also want you to elaborate on an example you gave in your application so read over your job application.

It is always useful to prepare some answers about why you want the job, your biggest achievements and how your work experience relates to the role.

When answering interview questions is can be helpful to use the STAR method to describe your skills and experience.

Remember: Don’t be afraid to take notes during the interview or ask for clarification on a question if you don’t understand.

Questions
Always draft up your own questions about the role and the company, taking time to think about how you see yourself in the job. This demonstrates that you have thought about the potential challenges you may face in the role and about the company.

Presentation
You may be asked to deliver a presentation. When preparing make sure you follow the brief provided, ask in advance how the presentation should be formatted (i.e. PowerPoint), and what facilities you will have access too.

Make sure the presentation is well researched and you refer to key documents, organisational strategies or key projects currently being run by the organisation.

Giving a presentation can be nerve wracking and people tend to talk faster and more quietly when they are nervous. The interviewer will understand that you’re nervous but remember when you’re the presenter, you are the expert.

Presentation tips:
Practice your presentation enough so you can speak clearly and confidently.

Access requirements

If you have any access or mobility needs and the employer hasn’t already enquired about them do not be afraid to inform the employer. It is the duty of the employer to provide reasonable adjustments for those will access or mobility requirements.

Video Interviews

Video interviews are becoming more and more common as they allow organisations to interview and vet candidates before meeting them in person. They can also be beneficial if you can’t travel to the interview.

There are usually two types of video interview

Live / Skype interview
Pre – recorded interview

A pre – recorded interview will usually ask you to record an answer to a given question and you will have an opportunity to practice, before submitting the video.

For both it is important to remember:

To make eye contact with the camera
Be mindful of your back ground and record your video against a white wall or tidy background
Make sure you record in a quite room free from interruptions and with a strong internet connection
Answer questions clearly and concise

Psychometric tests

Psychometric tests can be used as part of the recruitment process to test your ability in specific skills such as numeracy, situational judgement and critical thinking.

Three quarters of HR recruitment professionals are now using psychometric testing and 78% agree that it is now a powerful tool for hiring. It is therefore important that job seekers are prepared for psychometric testing and the only way to be prepared is to practice, practice, practice.

Common tests include:

Verbal reasoning – assess how you well you understand written information and evaluate arguments and statements.
Numerical reasoning assess your ability to interpret charts, graphs, data or statistics, and whether you can deal with numbers quickly and accurately.
Diagrammatic reasoning (also known as inductive reasoning tests or abstract reasoning tests) assess a candidate’s ability to think logically and solve complex problems.
Spatial reasoning your ability to perceive, construct and manipulate shapes is measured by these tests.
Critical Thinking assess your ability to logically analyse assumptions, arguments, deductions, inferences and interpreting information.
Situational Judgement/Scenario-based Tests measure your behaviour and attitudes to work-related scenarios.

Below are some tips on how to prepare:

Know what tests you will have to sit. If you are unsure enquire with the employer and ask for sample tests if not already provided.
Keep to time. If you get stuck move on.
Make sure you read the questions carefully and answer the question being asked.
Re – do the questions you get wrong while practicing, if they come up in the test you will know how to answer it.
Sit the test in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.
Don’t panic! Get enough practice to boost your confidence and get used to the type of questions that will be asked.

Below are some helpful links to help you practice psychometric tests:

SHL Direct
Psychometric Institute
Job Test Prep & Beginners Guide to Psychometric Testing
Graduates First (Students only)