MASTERCLASS: GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT

CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Student Enrichment
MASTERCLASS 2014
WORKBOOK:
GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT
2014
ENQUIRIES
Career Development Centre
La Trobe University
Victoria 3086 / T03 9479 2459
F03 9479 1989
E
latrobe.edu.au/students/careers

Disclaimer

The information contained in this publication is indicative only. While every effort is made to provide full and accurate information at the time of publication, the University does not give any warranties in relation to the accuracy and completeness of the contents. The University reserves the right to make changes without notice at any time in its absolute discretion, including but not limited to varying admission and assessment requirements, and discontinuing or varying courses. To the extent permitted by law, the University does not accept responsibility of liability for any injury, loss, claim or damage arising out of or in any way connected with the use of the information contained in this publication or any error, omission or defect in the information contained in this publication.

La Trobe University is a registered provider under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). CRICOS Provider 00115M

Contents

Introduction to Graduate Employment Programs4

Eligibility for graduate programs4

Stages of Graduate Recruitment4

Quality applications take time to complete!5

Typical selection process5

Researching Graduate Programs6

How do I know who’s offering a graduate program?6

Company research6

Graduate websites & guides7

On-Campus Events7

Careers expos7

People in the industry7

Forums7

What do employers look for in graduates?

Resumes

What to include

Layout and Presentation Tips

Example14

Cover Letters

Sample Cover Letter

Online Applications

Tips for online application success

Responding to application questions

Responding to behavioural questions

Psychometric Testing

Types of tests

Resources

Assessment Centres

What happens in an assessment centre?

Tips for assessment centres

Employers talking about their assessment centres

Resources

Interviews

Types of interview

Preparing for the interview

The interview

Example Interview Questions

Networking36

Thepurpose and benefits of networking 36

Networking tips37

Using social media as a way to network

ATTENDING EMPLOYER EVENTS AND NETWORKING WITH EMPLOYERS 39

La Trobe University 1

GRADUATE MASTERCLASS 2014

Introduction to Graduate Programs

Graduate employment programs are offered by medium to large organisations (public and private) for which final year students are recruited to commence work after they complete their degrees. Recruitment for these sought-after positions occurs during semester 1 of the final year of your degree. Graduate recruitment programs usually include induction, training and work rotations in order to provide graduate employees with a thorough overview of the organisation. There is an expectation that after completion of the program, graduates will continue their employment with the organisation in higher level positions.

Features of most graduate programs:

  • Structured professional development programs designed specifically for new or recent graduates.
  • Generally range in length from 1 – 3 years.
  • May include rotational or fixed roles.
  • Typically commence after completing final year of study.
  • Aim to develop professional skills and abilities of new graduates to suit the particular needs of that organisation.

Eligibility for graduate programs

Applications for graduate programsare open to final year undergraduate students and recent graduates. Whilst some organisations are looking for specific disciplines, many others recruit from a range of disciplines. Read the eligibility requirements to ascertain whether you are eligible to apply, even for companies in industries you haven’t considered. For example, telecommunications companies such as Telstra recruit graduates from a wide range of business disciplines, including human resources and marketing.

Many organisations require applicants to be Australian citizens and/or have permanent residency. Check the requirements of the employers you plan on applying to, and only apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.

International students can find further information on applying for graduate programs by downloading the GO International 2014 directory from

Stages of Graduate Recruitment

Typical application timeline

  • Many organisations start their graduate recruitment campaign in February the year prior to graduates starting employment.
  • Applications can close as early as the end of March.
  • Positions usually commence at the beginning of the following year.
  • Some organisations acceptapplications throughout the year; others may have second round applications. Check GO and Unigrad () for a list of application deadlines.

Quality applications take time to complete!

Applying for graduate programs can be a lengthy process and requires more work than applying for part-time jobs you may have had during your studies. It’s easy to tell when an application has been rushed. The application period coincides with the start of semester, so you do need to think about how you will manage your applications around your study, work and personal commitments.

TIPS

  • Prepare your resume early, so you’ll only need to make minor changes when preparing your applications.
  • Consider creating your own graduate recruitment schedule with deadlines and times allocated for researching and writing each application.
  • Submit your application ASAP as some organisations close off applications when they have received a predetermined number.

Typical selection process

Most graduate selection processes are structured similarly to the diagram below. The exact order may change depending upon the organisation, however the majority of graduate programs will include most of these steps as part of the selection process. The selection process may also include case studies and written exercises.

What does each assessment stage include?

  • Online applications
    Cover letter; resume;statement addressing selection criteria; application form
  • Psychometric testing
    Aptitude and personality tests
  • Interviews & assessment centres
    Telephone interview andgroup interview
  • Group assessment activities
    Presentations,face-to-face interview andpanel interview
  • Final checks
    Reference checking (email or phone),probity checking

Occasionally employers will undertake checks about any criminal history and bankruptcy details as part of probity checking. These checks are most commonly used for legal, banking and financial services roles as well as by some government departments to ensure that you have the right qualifications and to identify any possible issues that may prevent you from performing that role.

ACTIVITY:Research application timelines now at key websites:

Researching Graduate Programs

How do I know who’s offering a graduate program?

Formal graduate programs are usually listed in the three main graduate websites and guides (see below). However, not all graduate programs are included, so it is a good idea to do further research. Make a list of companies in your field and check their websites for information on their graduate recruitment. Local councils and smaller organisations may offer a smaller number of graduate places and not advertise widely. Thinking laterally will help broaden your options so be sure to do your research!

Company research

You can find a lot of useful information on employers’ own websites - including detailed eligibility criteria and their own tips on what successful applications should include. Once you have a list of employers to research, reviewing their own graduate webpage is the best place to start. Reading graduates’ storiesor watching ‘day in a life of a graduate’ videos will help you determine whether the program is for you, and referring to these sources in your applications will give credibility to your reasons for applying.

The following websites are useful in identifying companies you may wish to work for:

  • IbisWorld
    Search for companies by industry at
  • Australian Stock Exchange
    Download a list of all listed companies at
  • Australian Government Graduate Programs
  • Victorian Public Service
  • Local Government Jobs

Graduate websites & guides

  • Graduate Opportunities – website and guides
  • UniGrad – website and guide
  • Grad Connection - website and forum

On-Campus Events

To find out about employer talks and networking events held at La Trobe University,see .These events are a great way to find out more detail about an organisation and its graduate program. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions of the company representatives which will inform your application and demonstrate your research.

Careers expos

Whilst some employers are shifting to marketing their graduate programs purely online, many still attend some careers expos. By attending an expo, you’ll get a chance to meet employers, find out about opportunities for graduates, ask questions, and do some networking. If you don’t have time to attend, ensure you research each expo’s website to see which companies are attending.Upcoming careers expos include:

  • ICAA Employment Evening – 13 March, Crown Towers, Melbourne
  • The Big Meet– 17 March, Etihad Stadium, Docklands, Melbourne
  • Engineering Careers Expo - 26 March, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
  • CPA Australia– 27 March, Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne

Be aware that you may need to register online in order to attend theseevents.

People in the industry

Consider any contacts you may have (e.g. previous graduates, friends, parents, community, virtual) who can give you an insight into the industry you are applying to enter. Find out the identity of the key people in the organisation and major players in the industry, how the industry is generally performing, and what the current issues are. Including this information in answers to application and interview questions (such as ‘what do you know about us’) will impress employers as it demonstrates your genuine interest in their organisation.

Forums

Whirlpool and other online forums are a useful source of information sharing between students. As these forums are unofficial, be careful to check information against the official sources of information: graduate guides and employer websites.

What do employers look for in graduates?

You will have strong academic track record. We are seeking individuals who have proven work experience in customer service related positions or corporate environments. Other broader leadership experiences such as coaching, community involvement or participation in any other extra co-curricular activities will be highly regarded.

Allianz Recruitment Team, 2012 (gradconnection forum response)

Academic ability

Most graduate recruiters ask for a minimum academic average across your university studies. Make sure you are aware of specific requirements for each employer before applying. Consistency of results is important – this indicates to an employer that you put in an effort regardless of the subject. Highlight any academic achievements on your application documents.

Skills

Employers seek graduates with a range of non-technical skills often referred to as employability or graduate skills. Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) regularly survey Australian graduate employers to find out the skills they most value in graduate applicants. Their 2012 Graduate Outlook Survey - of over 580 graduate employers - identified the most important selection criteria they use when recruiting graduates.

Interestingly, academic results were not regarded as the most important. Employers certainly regarded good academic results as significant, but also wanted candidates to demonstrate their skills in these key areas:

  • Interpersonal & communication skills (written and oral)
  • Passion/ knowledge of industry
  • Critical reasoning and analytical skills
  • Calibre of academic results
  • Cultural alignment / Values fit
  • Work experience
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Teamwork skills
  • Leadership skills

For more information, have a look at the GCA survey of graduate employers:

From this list, you can see that only one area – knowledge of industry – could be described as industry or discipline-specific; the other skills are very general, and could be demonstrated through activities from a wide range of disciplines and fields.

So there are two different types of skills graduates need to develop to work in the global environment: their discipline-specific technical skills, and a broader range of skills identified as ‘generic skills’, or ‘employability skills’. The eight identified general skills are:

  1. Communication
    Skills that contribute to productive and harmonious relations between employees and customers
  2. Teamwork
    Contribute to productive working relationships and outcomes
  3. Problem solving
    Skills that contribute to productive outcomes
  4. Self-management
    Skills that contribute to employee satisfaction and growth
  5. Planning and organising
    Contribute to long-term and short-term strategic planning
  6. Technology
    Contribute to effective execution of tasks
  7. Life-long learning
    Contribute to ongoing improvement and expansion in employee and company operations and outcomes
  8. Initiative and enterprise
    Skills that contribute to innovative outcomes

(Graduate Employability Skills, DEST, 2007 p.10).

Motivation

Employers want to know not just that you can do the job, but that you will do the job! Ask yourself these questions before you begin your application:

  • what are your reasons for applying for their graduate program?
  • what attracted you to your area of study?
  • how can you demonstrate a genuine interest in the industry / field?

Recruiters will expect that you can articulate your reasons for applying and explain how it connects to your longer term career goals. Evidence of your motivation may include participating in relevant student associations; having the initiative to attend industry events; undertaking relevant work experience; completing extra training courses; or simply having thoroughly researched the work of graduates in that organisation and linking this to your own career interests.

Now it’s time to apply!

You’ve done your research, identified the potential employers in your field and what they’re looking for. The next step involves drafting your application documents which will probably include an updated resume and cover letter as well as written responses to application form questions or key selection criteria.

Resumes

A resume is a marketing document for you to showcase your unique skills and attributes to potential employers. It details your qualifications, work experiences and accomplishments. It is not your biography, so you need to be selective about the information that the employer wants to see. Graduate recruiters will spend between 30 seconds and 2 minutes scanning your resume before deciding whether or not to shortlist you.

Your resume needs to be clear, concise, and relevant. The front page of your document should include the information that is most relevant for the job that you’re applying for. For graduate entry jobs, your education will be the most important followed by any relevant experience.

Tailor your resume for each graduate application so that you can clearly demonstrate to potential employers how you meet the requirements for that particular program.

Before creating a resume consider:

  • Your unique combination of skills and experience and how these relate to what the employer is looking for
  • How to market this persuasively whilst being clear and concise

Your Resume needs to give employers... clear evidence of the qualifications, skills, experience and qualities you have that match their specific job and workplace / organisation requirements.

What to include

Below is a list of content most commonly included in resumes for students and recent graduates. The order of sections is flexible – you should present the information most relevant to the job you are applying for in the first page, with less relevant information towards the end of the document.

All information in each section should be presented in reverse chronological order (that is, list the current or most recent activity first).

Career objective

Your career objective should be concise and tailored to the job you are applying for. If you have been employed in your field for more than 3 years a ‘Career Summary’ would be more effective.

For example:

As a graduate with a major in politics and history I am seeking a position where my analytical and communication skills can be used in developing and implementing public policy.

Qualifications / Education

In this section include:

  • Course title (bold)
  • Institution (La Trobe University, not ‘Latrobe’)
  • Dates studied (include your expected completion date if you are currently studying)
  • Majors (if applicable or relevant)
  • Highlight major projects, research papers, theses, etc.

Sometimes it may be helpful to include a selection of subjects you have studied. You would normally do this if they’re particularly relevant to the job you’re applying for. Only include your results in your resume if they are above average. It is optional to include your secondary education.

If you have completed other qualifications, such as a TAFE certificate or a short course (e.g.first aid certificate), consider the best place to position this on your resume. If it is directly relevant to the job, include it in this section below your degree; if not, it could go in a later section called ‘Training’.

Employment

In this section, include details from previous employment, including:

  • Job title
  • Company name (including a short company description if it is not well known)
  • Dates you worked there (months and years)
  • Position responsibilities
  • Statements highlighting your achievements

TIP: Use sub headings to highlight the most relevant information (e.g. ‘Industry Related Employment’ for relevant employment, and ‘Other Employment’ for less relevant employment).

If you have had a number of jobs with similar responsibilities, you may group them under one sub-heading. For example, if you have had multiple jobs as a waiter, list your job title as ‘Waiter’ and below that list the dates and places where you worked as a waiter in order of most recent to oldest. Underneath, list the responsibilities of those waiting jobs as though it was one position).

All employment (full-time, casual, part-time and voluntary) is important when you are starting out in your career as it illustrates that you are employable and that you have developed skills that may be transferable from one job to another.