Career Explorers Resource Pack

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Contents

1. Career Poster ................................................................................................................................... 3 2. The ABCs of the ‘World of Work’................................................................................................... 4 3. The Career Alphabet ....................................................................................................................... 5 4. The Possibilities are Endless! ........................................................................................................ 6 5. Employability Skills Mapping .......................................................................................................... 7 6. Career Research.............................................................................................................................. 8 7. Getting ready for an interview ........................................................................................................ 9 8. Career Investigation – Interview ‘Option 1’ ................................................................................ 10 9. Career Investigation – Interview ‘Option 2’ ................................................................................ 11 10. CV Writing ..................................................................................................................................... 12 11. Mock Interviews ........................................................................................................................... 13 Appendix 1 - ‘The Possibilities are Endless!’ Worksheet ............................................................. 14 Appendix 2 - ‘Employability Skills’ Worksheet ............................................................................... 15 Appendix 3 - ‘Careers Research’ Worksheet ................................................................................. 17 Appendix 4 - ‘Getting Ready for an Interview’ Worksheet ........................................................... 17 Appendix 5 - ‘Interview Techniques’ Handout ............................................................................... 19 Appendix 6 - ‘What are Your Strengths?’ Handout ....................................................................... 20 Appendix 7 - ‘Career Investigation - Interview ‘Option 1’’ Worksheet ........................................ 21 Appendix 8 - ‘Career Investigation - Interview ‘Option 2’’ Worksheet’ ....................................... 22 Appendix 9 - CV template ................................................................................................................. 23 Appendix 10 - Sample Questions for Mock Interviews ................................................................. 25 Appendix 11 - Key Tips for Answering Interview Questions........................................................ 27 Appendix 12 – Sample Job Description Templates ...................................................................... 28

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

1. Career Poster

Target audience: Age 8+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Volunteers will work with students in small groups to create a poster each highlighting aspects of a career. Posters may then be put on display in the school to encourage other students to think about their future career goals. Suggested Resources/Materials: Internet access (not necessary), pens, pencils, crayons, scissors, glue, tape, magazines (for pictures), large sheets of paper, glitter and other decorating materials Hints and tips: Allow 15-20 minutes for poster presentations at the end of the session. Encourage the students to make their posters interesting and visually appealing to help capture the attention and imagination of their peers. You could have a contest to select the best poster or posters based upon different criteria (e.g. Most informative, Most interesting, Most original etc.), but do check this idea and any potential prizes with the school.

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

2. The ABCs of the ‘World of Work’

Target audience: Age 10+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: In this activity volunteers will work with students in small teams to brainstorm the skills/attitudes necessary for the workplace for a group of letters from the alphabet, ensuring the entire alphabet is represented. Each team will associate one skill or attitude for getting a job and one skill or attitude for keeping a job with their assigned letters. After the associations are completed, each team will share their assigned ABCs with the class.

Suggested Resources/Materials: Dictionaries, pens, pencils, paper

Hints and tips: Before beginning to associate skills and attitudes with your team’s assigned letters, ensure the students understand the definition of the terms skills and attitudes. Perhaps have a child read out the definitions from the dictionary and then ask for an example of a skill and an attitude (e.g. skill – time management, attitude – determination). Have members of the team work together on one letter at a time, brainstorming to come up with skills and attitudes for getting and keeping a job associated with the letter in question and selecting a top choice for each category of getting a job and keeping a job. These top choices will be the ones presented to the class at the end of the session. Allow 20-25 minutes for presentations and discussion at the end of the session. During the discussion with the students explain how no one skill or attitude equates to success in the workplace. Emphasise that there are many skills and attitudes needed for a successful workplace and those skills and attitudes may often change dependant on the work to be done.

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

3. The Career Alphabet

Target audience: Age 10+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: In this activity volunteers will work with students in small teams to brainstorm the potential careers/jobs for a group of letters from the alphabet, ensuring the entire alphabet is represented. Each team will associate one career/job to each of their assigned letters. After the associations are completed, each team will share their assigned ABCs with the class.

Suggested Resources/Materials: Internet access for research (not necessary), pens, pencils, paper

Hints and tips: Have members of the team work together on one letter at a time, brainstorming to come up with careers/jobs associated with the letter in question and selecting a top choice to be the one presented to the class at the end of the session. Have the team come up with a brief description of skills and responsibilities required for the career/job they have chosen for each letter to be included in their presentation. Allow 20-25 minutes for presentations and discussion at the end of the session. Encourage the students to talk about the careers/jobs that interest them throughout the session, and particularly in the discussion, providing your own experiences to help widen their understanding of the opportunities available to them and the variety of paths they can take.

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4. The Possibilities are Endless!1

Target audience: Age 10+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Volunteers will work with students in small groups to brainstorm the various career opportunities that are available to them and fill in the worksheet provided as a team. After the worksheets have been completed, answers will be shared with the class as a whole. Suggested Resources/Materials: Internet access (not necessary), pens, pencils, paper, ‘The Possibilities are Endless!’ Worksheet (Appendix 1) Hints and tips: Read over the questions before the session and try to come up with answers that you may use from your own experience to aid the students in their brainstorming session. Allow 20-25 minutes for group discussion of the answers at the end of the session. Questions: 1. List three jobs that are seasonal. 2. List three dangerous jobs. 3. List three jobs that require great intelligence. 4. List three jobs that require quick thinking skills. 5. List three jobs that require good physical stamina. 6. List three jobs that require good organisational skills. 7. List three jobs that should pay well. 8. List three jobs that should pay more than they do now. 9. List three jobs that should pay less than they do now. 10. List three jobs that require the ability to get along with others. 11. List three jobs in which one works primarily by himself or herself. 12. List three jobs that require advanced educational training. 13. List three jobs that should be thought of more highly by the public. 14. List three jobs that involve patience. 15. List three jobs that require a lot of time away from home.

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Source: Jobs…Jobs…Jobs, 1996, The Center for Applied Research in Education

Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

5. Employability Skills Mapping2

Target audience: Age 12+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Volunteers will work with students in small groups to each fill in their own self-assessment Employability Skills Worksheet. Suggested Resources/Materials: Pens, pencils, paper, ‘Employability Skills’ Worksheet (Appendix 2) Hints and tips: Ensure all of the students understand what is meant by employability skills by discussing the concept of transferable skills which may be utilised in many different careers/jobs and therefore enhance an individual’s overall employability. You may also need to go through the list of skills in the worksheet and provide examples of the each of the skills described for clarification. Help the students to undertake a realistic self-assessment of their achievements, qualities, aptitudes and abilities by providing examples of your own evidence for some of the skills listed. Volunteers can give an introduction to their group in which they explain what they do in their roles within the industry they are representing and some of the transferable skills that have been an asset to them in their ability to do their job successfully. Try to give examples of some skills that you have developed in your previous jobs that you now apply in your current role.

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Source: www.aimhigherwest.org.uk Focus on Careers Learning Resources

Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

6. Career Research3

Target audience: Age 12+ Time allowance: 1.5 hours Description of activity: Volunteers will work with students in small groups, ideally 1:1 or 1:2, to answer the following questions about a career of their choice using the internet and potentially class room materials for the research aspect. Suggested Resources/Materials: Internet access, pens, pencils, paper, ‘Careers Research’ Worksheet (Appendix 3) Hints and tips: Read over the questions before the session and try to come up with answers, and potentially resources, that you may use from your own profession to aid the student in their research. Career Research Questions: 1. Description of the occupation including main duties and responsibilities. 2. What are the education and training requirements for the occupation? 3. List other required qualifications such as licensing, certifications, etc. 4. What is the average wage or salary for this occupation? 5. What is the employment outlook for this occupation? 6. List the places where people in this occupation might work. 7. What are the opportunities for advancement? 8. List other occupations that are similar or related. 9. Is this occupation available in your area? List companies or other places of employment in your area in which this occupation is located. 10. What school subjects or courses would help you to prepare for this occupation? 11. Does this occupation deal mainly with people, data, things or ideas? 12. Do you think you have the aptitude (potential ability) for this occupation? 13. This occupation interests you because: 14. List 3 resources (books, magazines, computerized information, etc.) used for this research. 15. List the name of a person(s) you know (or know of) who is in this occupation.

3 Source: Career Choices in North Carolina, 2005-2006 Career Development and User’s Guide, Youth edition

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

7. Getting ready for an interview Target audience: Age 12+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Volunteers will work with students in small groups, to discuss the various aspects of preparing for an interview. Suggested Resources/Materials: Pens, pencils, paper, ‘Getting Ready for an Interview’ worksheet, ‘Interview Techniques’ handout, ‘What are your strengths?’ handout (Appendix 4, 5 and 6) Hints and tips: While this session would most effective if followed by activity 11 (Mock Interviews), it would still be a useful discussion if done in isolation. After 5-10 minutes of individual work time on the ‘Getting Ready for an Interview’ worksheet, check and correct the students’ answers that they have filled in for the order of occurrence for interview preparation. Discuss any differences in opinion and where necessary explain what the correct order should be. Discuss the link between positive impressions and interview preparation. While these aspects of preparation may seem obvious, employers and educational providers often complain that young people are unprepared for their interviews and arrive late, not informed about the job or courses they are being interviewed for or untidy. Use the ‘Interview Techniques’ and ‘What are your strengths?’ handouts to aide a follow-up discussion with the students around the importance of preparation and practice for a successful interview. Remind them that interviews are not only about demonstrating their strengths to the company, but for them to decide if the company and role are right for them. Allow 5-10 minutes for group discussion of the learnings at the end of the session.

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8. Career Investigation – Interview ‘Option 1’4

Target audience: Age 12+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Students will interview volunteers 1:1 to gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities associated with their career. Suggested Resources/Materials: Pens, pencils, paper, ‘Career Investigation - Interview ‘Option 1’’ Worksheet (Appendix 7) Hints and tips: Read over the questions before the session and try to come up with answers, and potentially resources, that you may use from your own profession to aid the student in their investigation. Career Investigation - Interview ‘Option 1’ Questions: (Please note: You will provide the students with the following suggested questions and advise them to add in a few of their own)

1. How long have you worked in this occupation? 2. What other occupations did you work previously? 3. Do you primarily work with people, data, things or ideas? 4. What do you like most about your job? 5. How did you get started in this line of work? 6. What personal qualities do you feel are needed to succeed in this line of work? 7. What type of training is needed for this occupation today? 8. What changes in your occupation have you seen occur? 9. What are the most frequently recurring problems on your job? 10. What type of technology do you use? (Computer hardware, software, etc.) 11. Students to create their own.. 12. Students to create their own.. 13. Students to create their own.. 14. Students to create their own.. 15. Students to create their own..

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Source: Career Choices in North Carolina, 2005-2006 Career Development and User’s Guide, Youth edition

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9. Career Investigation – Interview ‘Option 2’

Target audience: Age 12+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Students will interview volunteers 1:1 to gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities associated with their career. Suggested Resources/Materials: Pens, pencils, paper, ‘Career Investigation – Interview ‘Option 2’’ Worksheet Hints and tips: Read over the questions before the session and try to come up with answers, and potentially resources, that you may use from your own profession to aid the student in their investigation. Career Investigation Interview ‘Option 2’ Questions: (Please note: The students are provided with the following suggested questions and advised to add in a few of their own)

1. What's your job title? 2. What kinds of things do you read? 3. What kind of writing do you do? 4. Do you communicate by speaking and listening? 5. What kinds of mathematics are used on your job? 6. Does your company have customers or work with people in different counties, cities or countries? Could you share any examples with me? 7. How are major decisions made in your department? Could you share any examples with me? 8. Are you a problem solver at work? Could you give an example please? 9. What technology do you use to accomplish your job? 10. What machines do you operate on your job? 11. Do you teach others as part of your job? 12. Are you trained in other jobs at the same worksite? 13. Where did you learn the skills needed for your job? 14. Students to create their own.. 15. Students to create their own.. 16. Students to create their own..

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10. CV Writing5

Target audience: Age 14+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Volunteers will spend time working with students in small groups, ideally 1:1 or 1:2, to help them write a CV or revise an existing one. Suggested Resources/Materials: Pens, pencils, paper, ‘CV Template’ (Appendix 9) Hints and tips: Have the teacher ask students to bring in an existing CV to revise, if they have one, but reassure students that there will be the opportunity to make a new one if they prefer to do so. Bring a copy of previous versions of your own CV and/or a current version (with contact details removed or blanked out) to help demonstrate what the CV of someone starting out and/or with a more established career would look like.

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Source: Career Choices in North Carolina, 2005-2006 Career Development and User’s Guide, Youth edition

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

11. Mock Interviews Target audience: Age 14+ Time allowance: 1 hour Description of activity: Volunteers will spend time working with students to help them gain an understanding of the interview process. Suggested Resources/Materials: Pens, pencils, paper, ‘Sample Questions for Mock Interviews’, ‘Key Tips for Answering Interview Questions’ and ‘Sample Job Description Templates’ (Appendix 10, 11 and 12) Hints and tips: Volunteers may work 1:1 or in small groups of 1:3 where while one pupil is interviewed two others observe and contribute to the feedback given to the interviewee at the end of the interview. If working in small groups, pupils should be encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from one another’s interviews and incorporate the feedback given to their peers into their own interview performance. This activity may be used in combination with activity 7 (Getting ready for an interview) to help the pupils understand the interview process from preparation to execution or volunteers may choose to incorporate some of the learnings from the activity 7 materials dependant on time allowed (‘Getting Ready for an Interview’ worksheet, ‘Interview Techniques’ handout, ‘What are your strengths?’ handout (Appendix 4, 5 and 6)). There is a selection of interview questions to choose from provided in ‘Sample Questions for Mock Interviews’ (Appendix 10), which may be used in combination with the Sample Job Description Templates (Appendix 12) provided or a job description from your own company. Try to help pupils make the link between the criteria sited in the job description and the answers they give to the interview questions. Allow 5-10 minutes for group discussion of the learnings at the end of the session.

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Appendix 1 - ‘The Possibilities are Endless!’ Worksheet6

1. List three jobs that are seasonal.

2. List three dangerous jobs.

3. List three jobs that require great intelligence.

4. List three jobs that require quick thinking skills.

5. List three jobs that require good physical stamina.

6. List three jobs that require good organisational skills.

7. List three jobs that should pay well.

8. List three jobs that should pay more than they do now.

9. List three jobs that should pay less than they do now.

10. List three jobs that require the ability to get along with others.

11. List three jobs in which one works primarily by himself or herself.

12. List three jobs that require advanced educational training.

13. List three jobs that should be thought of more highly by the public.

14. List three jobs that involve patience.

15. List three jobs that require a lot of time away from home.

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Source: Jobs…Jobs…Jobs, 1996, The Center for Applied Research in Education

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Appendix 2 - ‘Employability Skills’ Worksheet7 My employability skills Core Skills Literacy Numeracy ICT People-related Skills Communication Interpersonal Influencing Negotiating Team-working Customer Service Leadership Thinking Skills Managing information Problem Solving Planning Organising Learning skills Innovative thinking Creative thinking Reflective thinking Personal skills & Attributes Enthusiasm Adaptable Motivation Reliability Responsible Attitude Honesty Resourcefulness Commitment Loyalty Flexibility Personal Presentation Time management Dealing with pressure Skills related to the business world Innovation (new ideas) 7

Grade 1-10

Briefly describe your evidence

Source: www.aimhigherwest.org.uk Focus on Careers Learning Resources

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Enterprise Commercial Awareness

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Appendix 3 - ‘Careers Research’ Worksheet8 Title of Occupation:

1. Description of the occupation including main duties and responsibilities.

2. What are the education and training requirements for the occupation?

3. List other required qualifications such as licensing, certifications, etc.

4. What is the average wage or salary for this occupation?

5. What is the employment outlook for this occupation?

6. List the places where people in this occupation might work.

7. What are the opportunities for advancement?

8. List other occupations that are similar or related.

9. Is this occupation available in your area? List companies or other places of employment in your area in which this occupation is located.

10. What school subjects or courses would help you to prepare for this occupation?

11. Does this occupation deal mainly with people, data, things or ideas?

12. Do you think you have the aptitude (potential ability) for this occupation?

13. This occupation interests you because:

14. List 3 resources (books, magazines, computerized information, etc.) used for this research.

15. List the name of a person(s) you know (or know of) who is in this occupation. Appendix 4 - ‘Getting Ready for an Interview’ Worksheet9 8

Source: Career Choices in North Carolina, 2005-2006 Career Development and User’s Guide, Youth edition

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Put the following aspects of preparing for an interview in the correct order of occurrence: Aspect Arrive 5 minutes before your interview time Think of some questions to ask your interviewer about the company and job Decide what to wear Clean your interview outfit Double-check that your appearance is clean and tidy Contact the organisation and accept your interview Find out how to get there Introduce yourself at reception Research travel time Leave home with mobile phone in case you are delayed and need to contact organisation Prepare information and interview letter to take with you Think about what questions you will be asked Work out your answers to questions Practice your questions with your family, a friend or tutor Do labour market research on the organisation Get dressed into your interview outfit

Numerical order

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Source: Vocational Learning Support Programme - The Recruitment game, http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/VLSP29/index.htm

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Appendix 5 - ‘Interview Techniques’ Handout10 The thought of having an interview can be quite daunting but being well prepared can take away some of the pressures. Also, it is worth remembering that an interview is a two way process – it is not only about the company deciding if they like you, it is also a chance for you to decide if you would like to work for the company. Interviewers are not trying to 'catch you out' – they are trying to give you an opportunity to sell yourself. Before the interview   



  

Phone the company to confirm the time, date and location of your interview. Plan how to get to your interview – if you are unsure of how long it will take you could do a 'dummy run'. Make sure that you arrive a few minutes early, don't be late. If there is a chance though that you are going to be late, phone the company and let them know what time you expect to be there. Find out as much as you can about the business – explore the company website and read the newspapers for current events that may have an effect on the company. This shows that you have a real interest in the company as a whole and it will give you plenty to talk about during the interview. Plan what you will wear and make sure it is clean and ironed. Try and anticipate the questions that you may be asked and practice your answers. Think of some questions that you would like to ask the interviewer.

During the interview  

  



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Make sure your handshake is firm and confident. Be aware of your body language – make sure you sit properly, try to keep your hands away from your face and try not to fidget. It is very important to maintain good eye contact with the people who are interviewing you. Show interest by acknowledging what is being said (gentle nodding may be a good way to demonstrate that you are listening). If you don't understand a question it is ok to say so or ask for some time to think about it. An interviewer will generally ask you if you have any questions towards the end of the interview – make sure you use the opportunity to ask things that you may have thought of previously or anything that may have cropped up during the interview. However hard it may seem at the time – remember to smile. A smile will make you appear friendly and approachable and therefore more suitable as an employee.

Source: www.assetskills.org

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Appendix 6 - ‘What are Your Strengths?’ Handout11

A.

activating, adapting, administering, analyzing, arranging

B.

budgeting, building, briefing, balancing

C.

communicating, controlling, co-ordinating, creating, checking

D.

deciding, detailing, developing, directing, devising

E.

empathizing, evaluating, examining, explaining

F.

finding, fixing, formulating, finalizing

G.

guiding, gathering, generating

H.

helping, handling, hosting

I.

imagining, implementing, influencing, initiating, innovating, improving

J.

judging

K.

keeping

L.

learning, listening, locating, launching

M.

managing, mentoring, monitoring, motivating

N.

negotiating, navigating

O.

observing, organizing, overhauling

P.

persuading, planning, preparing, presenting, problem-solving

Q.

questioning, qualifying

R.

researching, resolving, reporting, recording, repairing

S.

scheduling, selling, setting -up, supervising, simplifying, speaking

T.

teaching, team-work, trouble-shooting, training, tracking

U.

understanding, uniting, upgrading, updating

V.

verbalizing, volunteering, verifying

W.

writing, working

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Source: http://www.best-job-interview.com/what-are-your-strengths.html

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Appendix 7 - ‘Career Investigation - Interview ‘Option 1’’ Worksheet12 Suggested questions are listed below. You can add questions related to your interests and concerns. 1. How long have you worked in this occupation?

2. What other occupations did you work previously?

3. Do you primarily work with people, data, things or ideas?

4. What do you like most about your job?

5. How did you get started in this line of work?

6. What personal qualities do you feel are needed to succeed in this line of work?

7. What type of training is needed for this occupation today?

8. What changes in your occupation have you seen occur?

9. What are the most frequently recurring problems on your job?

10. What type of technology do you use? (Computer hardware, software, etc.)

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Source: Career Choices in North Carolina, 2005-2006 Career Development and User’s Guide, Youth edition

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Appendix 8 - ‘Career Investigation - Interview ‘Option 2’’ Worksheet13 Suggested questions are listed below. You can add questions related to your interests and concerns. 1. What's your job title?

2. What kinds of things do you read?

3. What kind of writing do you do?

4. Do you communicate by speaking and listening?

5. What kinds of mathematics are used on your job?

6. Does your company have customers or work with people in different counties, cities or countries? Could you share any examples with me?

7. How are major decisions made in your department? Could you share any examples with me?

8. Are you a problem solver at work? Could you give an example please?

9. What technology do you use to accomplish your job?

10. What machines do you operate on your job?

11. Do you teach others as part of your job?

12. Are you trained in other jobs at the same worksite?

13. Where did you learn the skills needed for your job?

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Source: Career Choices in North Carolina, 2005-2006 Career Development and User’s Guide, Youth edition

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Appendix 9 - CV template14

Your full name Your home address Your home phone number Your mobile phone number Your personal email address

Profile I am a hard working team player and I enjoy exceeding targets. I look for ways to do things better because I am motivated by being successful and achieving.

Profile explained: your profile should be about 30 words long and describe what you are like to work with, focussing on how you can help an employer to prosper. Remember, you don’t need to have had a job to be able to describe yourself as a colleague.

Key skills and achievements List up to five achievements – remember you want to show how you would add value to a company. Define and explain the skills like this: Customer Service 

Developed Service Level Agreements to enhance customer experience for new and existing customers, which led to a 3% increase in renewals and a 2.5% increase in value of units sold.

Systems used List all of the systems that you have used that are relevant to the job that you are applying for, stating your competence level. For example:   

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Sales Force CRM super user MS Excel advanced HTML basic

Source: www.getmeacooljob.com

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Career summary Focus on the skills and experience that you have from previous employment that supports your key skills list above. List your employment history in reverse order, starting with your most recent job first. List you employment history like this:

Job title

From-to dates

Company name

If you do not want to name your current employer, describe the company instead e.g. Leading UK software house

Training and qualifications List any recent courses that you have completed where the course or skills acquired are relevant to the job that you are applying for. State the grade or mark that you achieved where relevant.

Course/skill name

From-to dates

Educational institution

Grade/mark

Awards and membership of professional bodies List all relevant awards, membership of professional bodies and also membership of ‘news’ groups etc. For example: 

Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

Interests (optional) Keep this short, about one line. If you don’t have a work history, list awards and personal achievements here.

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Appendix 10 - Sample Questions for Mock Interviews15 List of interview questions relating to the new job / company 1. Why do you want this job? 2. What qualities do you think will be required for this job? 3. What can you contribute? 4. Why do you want to work for this company? 5. What do you know about this company? 6. What interests you about our product (or service)? 7. What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer? 8. You have not done this sort of job before. How will you cope/succeed? 9. Why should we employ you? 10. How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the team/company? 11. How ambitious are you? 12. Would you compete for my job? 13. What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing? 14. What are you looking for in a new job? 15. What would you like to avoid in your next job? 16. You may be over qualified for this position? 17. Are you prepared to relocate? 18. Are you willing to travel? 19. What level of salary are you looking for now? List of interview questions relating to your current / previous job 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for? What are the differences? What do you think of the last company you worked for? Why did you join your previous company? Did they live up to your expectations? Why are you leaving now? Explain the organizational structure in your last company and how you fitted into it? What did you think of your manager/supervisor? How did you get on with your previous manager/supervisor, coworkers and subordinates? 10. What did you do on a day to day basis? 11. Did you increase sales or profits in your last job? 12. Have you reduced costs at your last company? 13. Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job? 14. What problems did you encounter in your last job? 15. What annoyed you about your last job? 16. What did you earn in your last job?

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Source: http://www.bradleycvs.co.uk/interview/list-of-interview-questions.htm

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Career related interview questions Why did you choose a career in …? Why are you changing careers? What are your career goals? How long have you been looking for a new job? Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company? What would your ideal job be? Are you considering any other positions at the moment? If you have changed jobs a lot you may be asked how long you would stay in the new job. 9. Have you ever been fired? 10. How often are you off sick? 11. What will your referees say about you? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

List of interview questions relating to you 1. How would you describe yourself? 2. How would others describe you? 3. Do you consider yourself successful? 4. What was your greatest success? 5. How did you achieve it? 6. What has been your biggest failure? 7. How could you improve yourself? 8. Are you a leader? 9. How do you handle criticism? 10. What sort of manager are you? 11. What makes a good manager? 12. Do you work well with others? Or are you a loner? 13. Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated? 14. Are you accepted into a team quickly? 15. Can you act on your own initiative? 16. How do you run a meeting? 17. What motivates you? 18. What management style gets the best results out of you? 19. Do you know how to motivate other people? 20. Are you competitive? 21. Are you aggressive? 22. What do you dislike doing? 23. Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities? 24. Can you work under pressure? 25. How many hours are you prepared to work? 26. Do you mind working for someone older than yourself? Younger than you? Of the opposite sex? 27. What interests do you have outside work?

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

Appendix 11 - Key Tips for Answering Interview Questions16

Why do you want this job? Think carefully about this question. Stress the positive aspects which have attracted you to applying for this position. Do not mention the negative aspects of your current job or the job in question. What qualities do you think will be required for this job? Their advertisement for the job may help you a little bit, but you should also think of the other qualities that may be required. These may include leadership ability, supervisory skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving, analytical skills, etc. What can you contribute? This is your chance to shine. Tell them about your achievements in your previous position(s) which are relevant to the new position you are applying for. Why do you want to work for this company? Emphasise the positive reasons why you want to join their company, but avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours. These would not endear you to a prospective employer. What do you know about this company? This is your chance to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company. Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures, news, company figures, customers, etc. What interests you about our product (or service)? Again, your research into the company should aid you in answering this question. What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer? Tread carefully here! Again do not mention money. Stress opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, etc.

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Source: http://www.bradleycvs.co.uk/interview/list-of-interview-questions.htm

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

Appendix 12 – Sample Job Description Templates17

Job Title Department Location Reporting Structure General Purpose A summary of the overall purpose of the job

Key Tasks and Responsibilities The activities, functions and areas of accountability for the job are clearly defined here. Effective job descriptions start each key task with a verb that describes what the employee must do. Examples include develop, meet, organize, plan, arrange, supervise, communicate, review, prepare, manage, monitor, write, handle, evaluate, maintain, analyze and implement.

Education & Training State the necessary level of education and qualifications and training required to perform the job. For example Bachelors Degree, diploma, examinations passed, registrations and accreditations.

Knowledge and Experience Specific experience required. Specific knowledge required. For example knowledge and experience of software applications, equipment, job methods and tools, technical processes, accounting principals, legislation and standards.

Core Competencies These are the skills and abilities required to successfully perform the key tasks and accountabilities. Examples include communication skills, planning and organizing ability, problem analysis, problem solving, adaptability, the ability to delegate, stress tolerance, initiative, negotiation skills, persuasiveness and attention to detail.

Working Conditions State any working conditions that the employee needs to be aware of such as working environment, hours of work and any special conditions such as high noise levels, shifts, travel and overtime. Salary and benefits can also be included here. 17

Source: http://www.best-job-interview.com/job-description-template.html

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Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack

Example:

Job: Customer Service

General Purpose Interact with customers to provide and process information in response to inquiries, concerns and requests about products and services. Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities 

deal directly with customers either by telephone, electronically or face to face

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respond promptly to customer inquiries

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handle and resolve customer complaints

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obtain and evaluate all relevant information to handle inquiries and complaints

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perform customer verifications

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process orders, forms, applications and requests

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direct requests and unresolved issues to the designated resource

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manage customers' accounts

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keep records of customer interactions and transactions

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record details of inquiries, comments and complaints

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record details of actions taken

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manage administration

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communicate and coordinate with internal departments

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follow up on customer interactions

Education and Experience

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

High school diploma, general education degree or equivalent



knowledge of customer service principles and practices Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack



knowledge of relevant computer applications

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ability to type

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knowledge of administrative procedures

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numeric, oral and written language applications

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product knowledge

Key Competencies

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

interpersonal skills

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communication skills - verbal and written

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listening skills

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problem analysis and problem-solving

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attention to detail and accuracy

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data collection and ordering

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customer service orientation

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adaptability

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initiative

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stress tolerance

Give & Gain Day 2013 – Career Explorers Pack