Getting a job - University of Bradford

Transcription

Career Development Services
Your Guide To...
Finding part-time and graduate jobs
Employability skills
CVs, Covering Letters & Applications
Psychometric Tests
Getting a
job
UOB
STUDENT
CDS
Interviews and Assessment Centres
CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES -
YOUR GUIDE TO...
Introduction
This booklet has been designed by Career Development Services to help
you get the job you want and includes information on: where to look for
graduate jobs, part-time work, CVs and applications, performing effectively
at interview and more.
Get in touch
The information has been tailored for University of Bradford students and
graduates. As well as featuring information specific to your Faculty and
your experience as a UoB student, there are also details of businesses and
organisations in Bradford and the local area to help you get started.
www.bradford.ac.uk/
careers
The booklet is divided into three colour-coded sections to help you easily get
to the place you want, these are:
01274 234991
Section 1: Developing your skills & finding a job
Section 2: Applying for jobs
careers@
bradford.ac.uk
Section 3: Assessment centres & interviews.
On the next two pages there is a contents flowchart to guide you through
the job seeking process, with a breakdown of exactly what’s in each section.
For more detailed information, visit our website: www.bradford.ac.uk/careers
and please come to see us if you have any careers-related queries.
YOUR GUIDE TO...
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Contents
SECTION ONE: Developing your skills and finding a job
Getting started /
Researching your career options page 6
Volunteering, joining a club or society
& taking a year out page 8
DEVELOPING
YOUR EMPLOYABILITY
SKILLS
page 7
Finding a
part-time job
page 9
Where to look for
part time work page 9
Local companies
page 10
Agencies and
further info page 11
What is a graduate job?
What about salary? page 12
Research graduate opportunities page 13
FINDING A GRADUATE JOB
OR INTERNSHIP
Where to look - Advertised jobs.
Graduate job sites by Faculty page 14
page 12
How to find jobs
that aren’t advertised
Face-to-face networking
Digital networking
page 16
Using LinkedIn for
job hunting page 17
Using Facebook &
Twitter for job
hunting page 18
More social media for
job hunting page 19
SECTION TWO: Applying for jobs
Top tips / example
person specification
page 22
Application forms
page 21
Example competency
question page 23
Personal statements
page 24
APPLYING
FOR JOBS Where do I start?
page 20
What should I
include? page 27
CVs
Types of CV
page 26
Formatting page 28
Submitting your CV
page 29
CV guideline page 30
Sample CVs:
Part-time pages 32-33
Graduate pages 34-37
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YOUR GUIDE TO...
What should I include?
page 39
Covering Letters
Top tips
page 38
APPLYING
FOR JOBS
(continued)
Covering letter guideline
page 40
Sample covering letter
(part-time work) page 41
Sample graduate
covering letter (response
to advert) page 42
Sample graduate
covering letter
(speculative application)
page 43
Useful words & phrases page 44
Psychometric tests
Aptitude tests page 45
SELECTION TESTS
page 45
Personality questionnaires
Situational judgement tests (SJTs) page 46
SECTION THREE: The interview process
ASSESSMENT CENTRES
What are assessment centres?
page 47
On the day page 48
Types of activities pages 48-50
Top tips
After the assessment centre page 51
Preparing for interviews page 52
Practical preparation page 54
At the interview: First impressions, Body language,
Answering questions effectively page 55
INTERVIEWS
Types of questions page 56
page 52
1:1, panel, competency
-based, strength-based
Types of interview
page 57
page 57
MMIs, sequential, group,
telephone page 58
Video & webcam
interviews page 59
The end of the interview page 60
RESOURCES page 61
ABOUT CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES page 63
YOUR GUIDE TO...
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SECTION ONE: Developing your skills and
finding a job
This booklet focuses
on finding a job;
for details on other
options please visit
our website or ring
us on 01274 234991
to arrange an
appointment.
Lots of jobs
don’t require a
specific degree, so
researching could
give you an idea of
career prospects that
aren’t necessarily
linked to your
subject.
Getting Started
When should I start thinking about my career?
In today’s job market, employers are looking for more than just a good degree grade, so you
should take steps to improve your knowledge and skills to stand out from the crowd. It’s never
too early to start thinking about what you want to do; below are our suggestions on when to
start:
First year
Middle years
Final year
Develop your
employability skills
and experience by
working part-time,
volunteering, joining
a club or society, (see
page 8).
Call into Careers to
get your CV checked.
Attend our
Employability
Workshops and
Careers Fairs.
Apply for our
‘Summer Experience’
programme.
Keep working on your
skills.
Research your career
options (see below).
Attend our
Employability
Workshops and
Careers Fairs.
Update your CV.
Apply for our
‘Summer Experience’
six week placements.
Apply for vacancies.
Attend our Employability
Workshops and Careers
Fairs.
Make an appointment with
a career development
adviser to explore your
career options, get help
with applications, refine
your CV and practice your
interview technique.
What if I’ve got no idea what I want to do?
Come to see a career development adviser to discuss your options, or you could try
the Prospects Career Planner: www.prospects.ac.uk/planner
Researching your career options
Why should I research my options?
Researching will give you a better understanding of your chosen career and the types of jobs
available. Your research may even open up options which you haven’t previously considered.
Where do I start with my research?
Book a guidance appointment with a career development adviser to get started. We can give
you impartial advice and direct you to relevant resources.
Explore the ‘What can I do with my degree?’ section on the Prospects website:
www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree and other resources
(listed on page 61) to help you generate ideas about future career paths and help you
understand what’s happening in the labour market.
Researching Labour Market Information (LMI) will help you find out about:

what jobs are out there

who the main employers are in your field

where jobs are being created

regional differences in job prospects.
Take a look at the labour market information, including the ‘What Do Graduates Do?’
report on our website: www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/options/degree-options/
You can also find out what previous graduates from your course and Faculty have gone on to
do via the Unistats website: http://unistats.direct.gov.uk
What should I do after I have researched?
Plan how you’re going to develop your employability skills through getting the right
experience to be a successful job hunter.
Book an appointment with a career development adviser to discuss your ideas further.
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DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS & FINDING A JOB
Developing your skills
Developing your employability skills
What are employability skills?
The University of Bradford has defined and categorised the main skills that employers look for
into nine employability capabilities. These are described below along with their related key
words and suggestions about how you can gain and demonstrate these as a UoB student or
graduate.
CAPABILITY
Management
of Self & Own
Performance
Professional
Values
Communication
& Presentation
Skills
Team &
Customer
Working
Problem
Solving
& Decision
Making
DEFINITION
HOW TO
GAIN / DEMONSTRATE THIS
KEY WORDS / SKILLS
The willingness and commitment
to learn and develop, including the
ability to adapt quickly to new
situations. Setting objectives to
continually improve yourself.
To respond positively under
pressure.
Planning, Organisation,
Decision making, Initiative,
Analytical & logical thinking,
Critical thinking, Resilience,
Self-motivation,
Enthusiasm, Commitment,
Time management
Try new things - join societies and
groups
Set personal goals
Research and share things you are
passionate about via social media
Travel - arrange an itinerary
Fundraising e.g. charity fun run
Portraying a professional image
through reliability, consistency
and honesty.
Dressing and acting appropriately.
The ability to deliver work
outcomes to agreed quality
standards and timescales.
Responsibility,
Accountability,
Time management,
Professionalism,
Integrity,
Customer service,
Team working
Any work experience, part-time job
or internship
Position of responsibility in a
student club or society
Meeting assignment deadlines
Become a first-aider, fire warden or
health & safety officer
Customer service,
Negotiation, Influencing,
Listening, Advising,
Languages, Persuading,
Performing / Presenting,
Interpersonal skills,
Networking
Written- through academic work,
blogs, administration experience
Verbal- through customer-facing
job roles, university presentations,
volunteering in the community
Student radio (RAMAIR)
Be a career ambassador / course rep /
student mentor (PAL scheme)
People skills,
Interpersonal skills,
Interaction, Adaptable,
Flexible, Responsive,
Coaching / Mentoring,
Working under pressure,
Time management
Group working at Uni
Involvement in sports teams,
societies, music groups
Any work experience working with
others and dealing with customers
Volunteering in the community
Applying knowledge,
Decision making,
Recommending, Persuading,
Creative thinking,
Researching,
Time management
Dissertation / final year project
Personal projects, e.g. starting a
small business
Travel
Fundraising / campaigning
Entering competitions
Organising events
Decision making, Leadership,
Creative thinking,
Networking, Researching,
Customer service,
Resilience, Determination,
Budgeting, Developing
Client relationships
Entering business competitions
Attending career networking events
Create a website, blog and share
articles about a subject or industry
Suggest improvements at your
part-time job
Start a student society or club
Getting your message across
and conveying your ideas and
thoughts effectively, face-toface, over the telephone,
electronically and in writing.
Working successfully with people
from a wide range of backgrounds.
Understanding the elements of
customer service.
How you personally react to a
problem, how quickly and
effectively you find a solution.
See page 44 for
more useful words
and phrases to help
you write about your
skills and experience.
Innovation
& Enterprise
The ability to identify and develop
opportunities through research
and planning.
Information
& Digital
Literacy
The ability to use computers and
software for word processing,
presenting, research, retrieval and
storage of information etc.
Use of social media and an
awareness of the potential uses
of digital technology.
Creative thinking,
Evaluate, Research,
Applying knowledge,
Maintain, retrieve and
update data,
Microsoft Office
Dissertation / final year project
Blog and share articles about a
specific subject or industry, having
a professional online presence
(see pages 16-19).
Keep up to date with new technology
Ability to understand a range of
financial concepts e.g. budgets,
credit, debit, profit, revenue, loss.
Ability to apply these concepts to
make effective decisions
within business settings and
personal life.
Understanding financial
concepts,
Budgeting,
Book keeping,
Economics,
Decision making,
Analytical & logical thinking
Work experience, handling cash etc.
Starting your own business and
keeping accounts
Become a treasurer for a student
club or society
Understanding,
Decision making,
Creative thinking,
Customer service,
Financial,
Managing others
Entering business competitions
Blog and share articles about a
specific subject or industry
Suggest improvements at your
part-time job
Arrange a business mentor / work
shadowing
Financial
Literacy
Business &
Commercial
Awareness
Understanding and evaluating
commercial priorities and
economic factors which affect
business and development in a
particular field.
‘Employability’ is
the group of skills
necessary for
getting and being
successful in a job.
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Developing your skills
How do I develop my employability skills?
Visit the Students’
Union in Student
Central to find
out more about
volunteering and
societies at the
university.
You could also
consider becoming
a student
representative,
career ambassador,
or be part of the peer
assisted learning
scheme.
You’ll already have lots of skills: as a student you’ve adapted to new situations; communicated
with your lecturers and fellow students; worked in or led teams; planned and organised
your assignments; and many more. You can always build on these skills to increase your
employability and stand out from the crowd. Have you considered:
working part-time
volunteering
joining a club or society
taking a year out?
Working part-time
See the following pages for full details.
Volunteering
Volunteering is great way to develop your
employability skills and impress employers.
As well as gaining experience, it’s also an
opportunity to network, build your contacts
and it may even lead to paid work.
To find out more about volunteering
opportunities locally, contact the UBU
Student Volunteering Centre on 01274
233300, by email volunteering@bradford.
ac.uk, or visit their website:
www.ubuonline.co.uk/volunteering
Joining a club or society
Joining a club or society is another way
of building up your employability skills,
particularly if you take on positions of
responsibility such as president, secretary,
team captain, student representative or
treasurer. Joining in also shows that you are
reliable, committed and trustworthy. You can
find a list of societies and sports clubs on
the University of Bradford Student’s Union
website: www.ubuonline.co.uk
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Taking a year out
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Some graduates decide to take time out
after university. If you plan your time
effectively, decide on your objectives and
spend your time out productively it can be
a good way of improving your employability
for when you do decide to enter the job
market.
Your gap year could involve:

volunteering
travelling
starting a small business
working abroad
If these options appeal to you, it’s important
to consider the costs, e.g. you may have to
pay for training, flights, accommodation, etc.
To find out more, there is information about
volunteering abroad, entrepreneurship and
other options on our website:
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers
You can also book an appointment with a
career development adviser to discuss the
right options for you.
Finding a part-time job
Why should I get a part-time job?
Having a job alongside your studies has many potential benefits. It can give you the
opportunity to earn extra money, enhance your CV, and improve your employability skills and
prospects beyond university. Working part-time also offers the chance to meet new people
and have a different social experience outside the university environment.
However, you should make sure that you can balance your job and your studies - we strongly
recommend that you work no more than 15 hours per week during term time. Retail and
hospitality jobs generally give you the flexibility to work weekends and evenings around your
studies, but there are a wide range of roles which offer part-time hours.
Think about what you
want to do. How about:
Where can I look for part-time work?
Jobs advertised by Career Development Services
Register at http://brad.prospects.ac.uk
to access our Jobs Online database for
part-time, casual or vacation work.
Jobs Online is updated daily and
vacancies are filled quickly, so you need
to browse it regularly.
Sign up for email alerts to get notified
as soon as a vacancy is added which
matches your preferences.
Most jobs on campus are advertised
on Jobs Online, but also check with
your department to see if they have
vacancies.
Look out for our ‘Job of the Week’
posters in the Union Mall or come in to
Careers to pick up a list of part-time jobs
(new every Thursday).
Friends and other contacts
Local newspapers
Let your friends and family know that you
are looking for part-time work as they may
know of local vacancies. Word of mouth
often works well.
Newspapers also have jobs sections on their
websites, and usually print a selection of
jobs weekly. Local newspapers include:
The Telegraph and Argus (jobs on
Wednesdays):
www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk
The Yorkshire Post (jobs on Thursdays):
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
Yorkshire Evening Post (jobs on
Thursdays):
www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
Jobs Today for the Yorkshire region
(Saturdays): www.jobstoday.co.uk
Other local companies
Think about where you might find a parttime job around Bradford, such as:

The Broadway Shopping Centre

Forster Square Retail Park

Restaurants, cafes and bars

Hotels and theatres
For local part-time
jobs, check our pages
on Facebook www.
facebook.com/
UniBradCareers
and Twitter
www.twitter.com/
UniBradCareers
every Thursday.

retail jobs
waiting & bar work
cleaning jobs
call centre work
warehouse work?
Speculative applications
Some businesses looking for part-time employees put adverts in their windows or on a
noticeboard.
If you know what work you’d like to do, or if you know of an employer who takes on part-time
staff, visit them and ask if they are recruiting – make sure you take a copy of your CV. If they
don’t accept CVs, they may ask you to fill in an application form. You could telephone or write,
but make sure to send your CV and a covering letter (see Applying for Jobs starting on page
20 for more).
See the next page for businesses and organisations who may be hiring in Bradford.
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Working at the Broadway Centre
Keep an eye out
for new businesses
opening in Bradford
and ask if they are
recruiting.
Cut out unsuitable
jobs from your online
searches by refining
your results by
‘distance’, ‘job type’,
‘posting date’, etc.
3 Store: careers.three.co.uk/
Boots (includes Pharmacy): www.boots.jobs
Burger King: www.bkcareers.co.uk/crew.aspx
Carphone Warehouse:
www.careersatcarphone.com/
Costa:
www.costa.co.uk/about-us/careers/careers
Debenhams: www.debenhams-careers.com
EE Mobile: jobs.ee.co.uk
The Entertainer: www.thetoyshop.com/careers
Ernest Jones:
www.signetjobs.co.uk/ErnestJones.aspx
Foot Asylum: www.footasylum.com/careers
Goldsmiths Boutique:
careers.aurumholdings.co.uk
H Samuel: www.signetjobs.co.uk/hsamuel.aspx/
H&M: career.hm.com/content/hmcareer/en_gb/
findjob.html
Holland & Barrett:
www.hollandandbarrett.com/info/careers
JD Sports: jdsports-careers.basis-system.com
KFC: www.kfc.co.uk/join-us/work-with-us
M&S: careers.marksandspencer.com/careers-atm-and-s
New Look: www.newlookcareers.co.uk/
Next: careers.next.co.uk/
Patisserie Valerie:
www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk/careers.aspx
The Perfume Shop:
www.theperfumeshopjobs.com/index.cfm
River Island: www.riverisland.com/inside-riverisland/careers/river-island/want-to-join-us
Sainsbury’s: sainsburys.jobs
Spud-u-Like: www.spudulike.co.uk/careers
Subway: www.subway.co.uk/business/careers/
Thomson:
www.thomson.co.uk/jobs/travel-jobs.html
Topshop: www.careers.topshop.com/job-search
Vision Express: www.visionexpresscareers.com
Vodafone: careers.vodafone.co.uk/home
WH Smith: www.whsmithcareers.co.uk
Other local companies and organisations
Argos: www.argoscareers.com
Asda: www.asda.jobs
Burger King: www.bkcareers.co.uk/home.aspx
Cineworld: www.cineworld.co.uk/careers
Clarks: uk.clarksjobs.com
Dixons Carphone: www.dixonscareers.com
DFS: www.dfscareers.co.uk
Halfords: www.halfordscareers.com
Harveys: www.harveysfurniturecareers.co.uk
McDonald’s: www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/
People/Join-the-team.html
Morrisons: www.morrisons.jobs
Mothercare: mothercare.team.careers
National Media Museum: www.
nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/aboutus/Jobs.
aspx
O2: www.telefonicaando2careers.com/gb
Odeon Leeds Bradford:
www.jobtrain.co.uk/Odeon5
Peacocks: www.peacocks.co.uk/careers
Pets at Home: www.petsathomejobs.com
Pizza Hut: www.pizzahut.co.uk/recruitment
SCS: www.scs-recruitment.co.uk
Sports Direct:
http://www.sportsdirect.com/Careers
Tesco: www.tesco-careers.com
TK Maxx: www.tkmaxx.com/content/ebiz/
tkmaxx/resources/careers/index.html
Waterstones: www.waterstones.com/help/
careers/47
Wetherspoons: www.wetherspoonjobs.co.uk
Other websites
Many part-time jobs are advertised on job search websites as well as the individual company’s pages.
An advantage of regularly checking these sites is that they display vacancies from different companies
in the same search. Jobs websites which you may want to check or download the apps include:
Jobcentre Plus – the UK Government’s website to provide support for people seeking
employment, listing all types of jobs: www.gov.uk/jobsearch
Monster – all types of jobs: www.monster.co.uk
Indeed – all types of jobs: www.indeed.co.uk
JobsGoPublic – public sector jobs: www.jobsgopublic.com
A quick internet search will reveal many more.
Many smaller independent businesses will not have recruitment websites, so it’s worth contacting
them directly to ask if they have any suitable vacancies.
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Recruitment /employment agencies
Signing up with recruitment agencies can be a useful way of finding temporary or part-time work.
Never use an agency which asks you for money – regulated agencies earn their fees from employers.
Agencies often specialise in certain types of work, and can offer both permanent and temporary
contracts. Register with the ones that offer the kind of jobs that you are interested in. Local
recruitment agencies include:

Assist Support www.assistsupport.co.uk (tel 0845 600 8376) - public sector, housing association
and retail & business work, including locally-based Morrisons.
Brook Street www.brookstreet.co.uk (tel 01274 733721) - office and light industrial work.
Interaction Recruitment www.interactionrecruitment.co.uk (tel 01274 743943) - customer
service and office work.
Office Angels www.officeangels.com (tel 01274 726300) - secretarial, administration and officebased work.
Premier Education www.premier-education.co.uk (tel 01274 271 173) - education and teaching.
Reed www.reedglobal.com (tel 01274 377610) - office, education, light industrial and health work.
Smarter Recruitment www.smarterrecruitment.co.uk (tel 01274 393687) - deal with a wide range
of work, with labouring and catering work regularly advertised.
Stafforce www.stafforce.co.uk (tel 01274 777973) - manufacturing and industrial work.
The University
recommends that you
work no more than
15 hours per week
during term time.
Our employability
advisers can help you
find and apply for
local part-time jobs,
get in touch with us
for more information.
How much will I be paid?
All employers must pay the National Minimum Wage.
From October 2016, the National Minimum Wage
(NMW) rates are:
£6.95 for workers 21 and over
£5.55 for 18 – 20 year olds
The NMW rate normally changes in October each year.
Further to this, the National Living Wage was introduced in April 2016. This means that
employers must pay everyone over 25 a rate of at least £7.20 per hour (again, this is
subject to change every year).
What if I’m not from the UK?
All European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss Nationals are free to work in the United
Kingdom without the need to apply for permission. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the
same rights to enter, live in and work in the UK.
However, nationals from Croatia do not have an automatic right to work while you’re a
student in the UK - you will need to apply for permission before you start work.
International Students (those who are not from EEA countries or Switzerland) will need
to check the restrictions on their student visa.
For further information please check the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk.
How do I apply for part-time work?
For advice and examples on how to write an application form, CV or cover letter for part-time
work, please take a look at:
the Applying for jobs section starting on page 20
sample part-time CVs on pages 32-33
a sample covering letter for part-time work, page 41.
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Finding a graduate job or internship
What is a graduate job?
Employers value
graduates for
both technical and
transferrable skills
gained at university.
Think carefully
about whether a
job is right for you
- things to consider
include the company,
salary, location and
prospects.
Graduate jobs are those which usually require a degree from the start, either because the
degree gives you the specific knowledge and qualifications to do a job, or because employers
value the skills and experience gained from a university education.
Graduate schemes are training programmes over a set period, usually one to two years,
which offer work experience and training within a company with a guaranteed job at the end
(providing you pass the training).
Internships are another way into employment, these can offer work experience and training
but unlike graduate schemes do not necessarily end in a formal job offer. However, they can
be a good way to improve your employability skills and find out whether a job is right for you
without signing up for a long period of time.
Be aware that some internships are unpaid, think carefully about applying for these.
Career Development Services organise the Bradford Graduate Internship Programme
to help recent graduates find ten-week internships at local businesses and organisations:
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/options/bgi2016/
What about salary?
The advertised salary will vary depending on the type of job, but there are a few things to
consider when deciding whether the job’s salary is right for you:
Tax and national insurance: Tax and
national insurance contributions will
be deducted from your pay, and there
may be further deductions for student
loans, pensions etc., so be aware
that you will take home less than the
advertised salary.
Hours worked: Full-time hours can
vary, so make sure that when you
break it down by an hourly rate, it’s
worth it.
Distance to work and travel costs:
If you are driving or commuting to
work, this costs both time and money,
for example, you could be adding two
hours travel per day and £2000 travel
costs per year - is this worth it?
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Long term prospects: If the job starts
on a lower rate, but there is a proven
way to progress and increase your
salary and career prospects over time,
this could be a better choice than a
job with a higher starting salary but
little security or no way to progress.
Contract term: The most secure type
of job is a permanent contract, but
many employers offer fixed-term
positions, generally for between six
months and two years. Bear in mind
that if you have a fixed-term contract,
the employer is under no obligation
to offer you a new contract when this
expires.
Graduate jobs and internships
Research graduate opportunities
Why should I research?
Applying for jobs is time consuming, so before you apply, be sure that you want to work for
the organisation; you could be working there for a long time.
Secondly, research will be useful at every stage of the recruitment process. You can use your
knowledge of the vacancies to tailor your application and impress the recruiters at interview.
Your research
will also be useful
at the interview
stage, see page 52
for more details.
What kind of research should I do?
Consider the job
Consider the company
Read general job descriptions: www.
prospects.ac.uk and www.targetjobs.
co.uk both feature overviews of salaries,
conditions, entry requirements, training
and career development.
Read job adverts / job description
/ person specification and required
competencies thoroughly: Some
organisations provide a detailed job
description and person specification,
while other organisations tend
to provide a list of the required
competencies, so ask yourself: is this
what I am looking for? What have
people who have done this job gone on
to do afterwards? Is that where I want to
direct my career? Will I enjoy it?
Look at the company’s website, online
presence and social media profile. Research
the organisation by looking at local and
national newspapers, business directories
and reports. Google them and see if there
are any recent news stories about them - it
might also be useful to do an image search
to become familiar with how they market
themselves through their branding and
style. The Careers Information Room has a
range of employer directories and computers
available for such research.
Consider yourself
What should I do after I have researched?
Read the person specification or job
description and ask yourself if you have the
required personal qualities, commitment,
energy, motivation, initiative, and
knowledge to perform the role. It’s hard to
evaluate this on paper, so evaluate yourself
and talk to people in the role to see if you
think you are a good match.
After you have researched, evaluate your
findings and decide if you want to apply. If
you do, use your research when you write
your application form, CV or covering
letter. Tailoring your application towards
the specific post will greatly increase your
chances of being shortlisted for an interview.
Use your research to
tailor your application
to show how your
experience, career
goals and enthusiasm
make you an ideal
candidate.
Before you apply, consider if the aims and
ethos of the company fit in with your own,
and if the location and size of the company
suits. You could also do a SWOT analysis
on the company (see page 52) – however,
this level of depth may be regarded as more
relevant to the interview stage but if you
have time and are hoping to get an interview,
there would be no harm in starting this stage
early.
CDS
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13
Where to look
Industry journals
and websites will
also help you to
stay informed
about wider trends
and events.
Visit our regular
careers fairs
for an insight
into local and
national graduate
recruiters.
Many graduate opportunities are advertised on company websites, job boards, trade and
industry journals (see resources on page 61 for more details), newspapers and recruitment
agencies but not all jobs are advertised. Here are some useful tips on where to look and hints
on job-hunting for both advertised and unadvertised vacancies.
Advertised jobs
Register at http://brad.prospects.ac.uk to access our Jobs Online database for graduate
jobs (this also features part-time, casual and vacation work).
Jobs Online is updated regularly and vacancies are filled quickly, so you need to browse it
regularly.
Sign up for email alerts to get notified as soon as a vacancy is added which matches your
preferences.
Other websites offering graduate job opportunities include:
Prospects: www.prospects.ac.uk
TARGETjobs: www.targetjobs.co.uk
Yorkshire Graduates: www.yorkshiregraduates.co.uk
Find more on our webpages:
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/finding-a-job/graduate-jobs/
Below is a selection of faculty-related graduate job websites:
Life Sciences
Health Studies
Environment Agency www.gov.uk/government/organisations/
environment-agency/about/recruitment
Environmental Data Services www.ends.co.uk
Biomedical Sciences www.careerscene.com
Royal Society of Chemistry www.rsc.org
Life Science Recruitment lifescience.ie
PMlive jobs.pmlive.com
New Scientist jobs.newscientist.com/en-gb/
New Scientist www.newscientist.com
NHS Jobs www.jobs.nhs.uk
TARGETjobs Healthcare targetjobs.co.uk
Management & Law
British Archaeological Jobs and
Resources (BAJR) www.bajr.org
Risk www.discoverrisk.co.uk
Pharmiweb www.pharmiweb.com
Medrek www.medrek.co.uk
STUDENT
Medrek www.medrek.co.uk
Directions www.directions.org.uk
ProClinical Limited www.proclinical.jobs/en
UOB
CHASE Medical Sales Recruitment www.chasepeople.com
ResearchGate www.researchgate.net
Countryside Jobs Link www.countrysidejobslink.co.uk
14
JobsGoPublic www.jobsgopublic.com
CDS
Graduate Auditor Careers and Jobs www.careersinaudit.com
People Management www.cipd.co.uk/pm/
Crown Prosecution Service www.cps.gov.uk/careers
TARGETJobs Law targetjobs.co.uk/law
Where to look
Engineering
Social Sciences
Gradcracker –
www.gradcracker.com
Career Structure www.careerstructure.com
ICErecruit –
icerecruit.com
World Service Enquiry - www.wse.org.uk
Bond - www.bond.org.uk
DFID - www.gov.uk/government/
organisations/department-forinternational-development
Set up a job hunting
bookmarks folder in
your web browser
to keep useful and
relevant job websites
in one place.
Bradford Council –
TARGETjobs Construction, QS and Civil
Engineering –
targetjobs.co.uk/construction
www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/employment_
jobs_and_careers/
Jobs in social work and social care
TARGETjobs Engineering –
targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/
engineering
Community Care Jobs -
Inside Careers –
www.insidecareers.co.uk
Creative Support -
Technical Jobs –
www.technojobs.co.uk
The Career Engineer www.fish4.co.uk/engineering
UK Engineering Recruitment –
www.ukengineeringrecruitment.net
jobs.communitycare.co.uk/
Sign up to
mailing lists for
newsletters and job
alerts so you don’t
miss anything.
Sanctuary Social Care -
www.sanctuarysocialcare.com
www.creativesupport.co.uk/jobs/
Jobs for psychology graduates
The British Psychological Society -
www.bps.org.uk/jobs/jobs
Jobs in Economics
TARGETjobs Economics targetjobs.co.uk/
Government Economic Service-
www.civilservice.gov.uk/networks/ges
Informatics and Media
TARGETjobs IT magazine targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/it-andtechnology
Inside Careers www.insidecareers.co.uk
Deanslist deanslist.co.uk
Work with offenders
West Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation
Company -
www.westyorkshirecrc.co.uk/careers/
careers-and-volunteering-opportunities/
West Yorkshire Police -
www.westyorkshire.police.uk/recruitment
National Offender Management Service www.nomscareers.com/
Local and national government
Civil Service Jobs -
BBC Jobs www.bbc.co.uk/careers/home
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Civil Service Fast Stream -
www.gov.uk/faststream
Screen Yorkshire www.screenyorkshire.co.uk
Jobs in schools
Creative Skillset creativeskillset.org
Health sector
E Teach - www.eteach.com/jobs.aspx
NHS Jobs - www.jobs.nhs.uk
Develop www.develop-online.net
Work in voluntary / charity sector
GamesIndustry.biz www.gamesindustry.biz
JobsGoPublic www.jobsgopublic.com
Voluntary Sector Jobs -
voluntarysectorjobs.co.uk/
Charity Job -
www.charityjob.co.uk/
CDS
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15
Jobs that aren’t advertised
See the next pages
for your guides to the
three key social media
platforms for job
hunting:
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter.
How can I find jobs that aren’t advertised?
Digital networking
Some jobs are offered to people already
known to the recruiters without being
advertised, so if you are job hunting it makes
sense to build up your network of contacts.
There are two ways of doing this: face-toface networking and digital networking.
What is it?
Digital networking can work in the same
way as face-to-face networking, but is done
purely online through social media and
internet forums.
Face-to-face networking
Start with LinkedIn
for your job search,
as unlike Facebook
and Twitter, it is
primarily for career
networking.
What is it?
You’ll already have your own network of
friends, family, academics and previous
employers, but you can always do more to
build up your network. Effective networking
increases your chances of hearing about
vacancies, and boosts your knowledge of the
labour market.
How do I do it?
Some useful ways to network include:
Ask your family: does anyone in your
family know people who work in your
chosen career area?
Get involved in your local community:
ask around and see if members of your
community can offer information.
Speak to employers you know: for
example, the University of Bradford is a
large organisation with lots of different
departments, e.g. HR, Finance, IT. If you
have a part-time job, ask your manager
and colleagues.
Attend university events: We organise
careers fairs and other careers events,
such as employer-led workshops,
recruitment open days and entrepreneur
meetings, offering great networking
opportunities. Attend them and talk
directly to employers.
Get in touch with alumni: the University
of Bradford has a large alumni, and
many will be happy to help. Consider
getting in touch with alumni through
LinkedIn (more on next page), perhaps
through specific alumni groups.
Join professional bodies and attend
their events: this may help you to
establish contacts. Student membership
may not be free; make sure you check
their website.
Approach people politely and
professionally: don’t ask for jobs
straight away, and keep in touch
afterwards to maintain your connection.
16
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Advantages of networking digitally as well as
face-to-face include:
Research: as well as connecting with
people, you can find out what an
organisation does, and who works for
them. This can potentially give you an
advantage over the other applicants
who just read the website.
Building your digital networks: social
media has made it much easier for
you to connect with people online who
may be able to help with your career
planning (e.g. employers, potential
recruiters and alumni).
Recruiting: as well as using social
media to market their products and
services, many companies also use
LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to
advertise vacancies and even search for
prospective applicants.
Your online profile
Once you have connected with a potential
employer, many will ‘Google’ you to check
out your digital profile and may even assess
you as a potential candidate. Make sure
the impression employers get is a positive
one – keep your digital footprint clean and
professional, set your privacy settings, and
do a regular internet search on your name
(while logged out of your social media
accounts) to check what comes up. Some
employers, such as media and marketing will
expect to see that you have an active social
media presence.
Top tips
Employers are usually impressed by:
Professional online photos and other
links
A well written and grammatically
correct profile
Positive recommendations,
achievements, qualifications
A wide range of interests and work
experience
An active social media presence
Digital networking
Using LinkedIn for job hunting
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a global professional
networking site with a focus on
linking companies, employees and
individuals for business purposes.
How can LinkedIn help me in my job hunt?
With LinkedIn, you can:
Establish your online professional
identity.
Make contacts with people in your
chosen career area who may be able to
advise you.
Network with alumni and potential
recruiters – for instance, you can find
out how alumni got to their current
positions.
Find out about industries and companies
that interest you, and gain commercial
awareness.
Join groups of like-minded individuals
and get involved in vocational
discussions.
Find out about jobs.
Make introductions and referrals for
others.
How do I use it?
Create an account at www.linkedin.com.
Take a look at other LinkedIn profiles to
get some ideas and then start yours.
Use the headline under your name to
display your career goals. If you don’t
have a suitable current job title, write a
brief description of the type of work you
want, so that you show up on searches
using these words.
If your CV is up-to-date and sells you
well, upload some information directly
into your profile.
Build your profile as fully as possible
to get an ‘All-Star’ rating - detail
your education, at least three
work experience roles and skills, a
professional photo, your location and
industry, and 50+ connections. This way,
you’ll appear in more searches.
The settings button (behind your small
photo, top right) allows you to change
your privacy settings.
By clicking the Profile tab you can edit,
add content, and rearrange sections.
See our guide on
page 19 for how to
get the best out of
your social media
profiles for job
hunting.
Follow the University
of Bradford on
LinkedIn:
http://tinyurl.com/
q6b9vff
Any top tips?

Link with people: search for friends, family, work colleagues, previous employers and
other contacts to link with them. You can also use LinkedIn’s search facility to find people
who may be able to help you. Do be careful how you approach people; asking politely for
information or advice is more acceptable than asking for a job.
Link with companies: to help with your career research search for companies to follow. See
if any of your contacts work at a company, as this can be useful if you need an introduction
or information you wouldn’t normally get from a job description or company website.
Link to your other accounts: Facebook, Twitter, blog, portfolio and website.
Join relevant groups: search for relevant student, placement, and alumni groups; look for
groups related to your career interests; get involved in discussions about your career area
to raise your profile and expand your network, and ‘like’, share and comment on interesting
posts.
Search for jobs: LinkedIn has a dedicated jobs portal for students and graduates that lets
you refine your search by sector and location (www.linkedin.com/studentjobs). Search for
opportunities through the ‘jobs you may be interested in’ feature.
Use key words: recruiters will look for potential job candidates by searching using key
words, so make it easy for them to find you.
List skills: take advantage of the fact that you can list up to 50 skills on your profile.
Encourage your contacts to endorse you and you’ll be more likely to show up in the right
searches.
Show off your expertise: you can add files, video clips and presentations. If you’re a
blogger then add links to market your posts.
Seek recommendations: don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations and endorsements
but be prepared to write one in return.
Show your personality: unlike a CV, you can inject some personality into your profile. In
the summary section you can write in the first person to give an idea of your interests and
goals.
Think about who will see your profile: a CV is about tailored information for a specific
audience. However, an online profile may be seen by anyone. It needs to convey the key
highlights of your career to date clearly and succinctly. Remember, too, that ‘anyone’ can
also include your current and previous boss.
CDS
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Digital networking
Using Facebook for job hunting
Follow us on
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/
UniBradCareers
What is Facebook?
Facebook is a social networking
site in which you create a
profile to keep in touch with
friends and family. You can
share photos and updates with people you’re
connected to. It can also be used to find out
about job opportunities, and for careers
research.

With over a billion monthly users,
Facebook is a useful networking tool.
How do I use it?

How can Facebook help me in my job hunt?
Many companies advertise opportunities
on Facebook, and have careers and
graduate recruitment pages.
Create a profile at www.facebook.com.
Make use of status updates: personal
updates on your current situation will help
you get noticed.
Your profile can help to inform employers
about you - keep it professional and hide
anything you don’t want people to see.
Either amend your privacy settings or
if you are organised keep two separate
profiles: one personal, one professional.
Any top tips?

Follow us on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/
UniBradCareers

Like and subscribe: you’ll find that the vast majority of companies are on Facebook. Use the
search facility to find companies in the field you are looking to enter, industry experts, job
sites, recruiters, graduate / placement specialists, alumni groups, and careers specialists. Be
aware that there will often be multiple pages for a large company, so make sure you doublecheck the details.
Check your privacy settings: anyone can potentially see the content you post on Facebook,
including your photos, statuses, and what you have ‘liked’. Allowing third party applications
access to your profile also grants the company behind the app access to your information.
So keep it professional, monitor your privacy settings, and be careful as many employers will
check your social media profiles before they proceed with your application.
Keep your profile up to date and truthful: remember, your details can also be seen on other
social networking sites.
Be proactive: network by updating your profile and status to tell people what kind of job role
you are seeking. ‘Like’ company Facebook pages and consider involving yourself in online
communities by commenting and asking questions.
Using Twitter for job hunting
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a social networking
site which allows you to post and
view 140-character messages,
called tweets, to those you
connect with. You don’t have to
tweet yourself, as you can just follow to begin
with.
How can Twitter help me in my job hunt?
Twitter is widely used by businesses and
potential employers. It is frequently used
to advertise opportunities, promote events
and competitions, and communicate with
potential applicants.

Twitter can also be a way of simply doing
some ‘market research’ about different
companies.
How do I use it?
Create an account at www.twitter.com
You can usually follow whoever you like on
Twitter without them approving you as a
follower. So find, follow and communicate
with organisations and professionals in
industries you are interested in.
Post regular, well-informed and
professionally appropriate tweets to give
a good first impression through social
media.
Any top tips?

18
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Keep it professional: if you plan to use Twitter for job hunting, use a professional head-andshoulders photo and find people and organisations in your chosen career area to follow.
Think about the content that you post, and its tone. You can set your account to ‘protected’,
but you may miss out this way, as others can’t see the good content you’ve posted.
Tweet and retweet: join conversations, pose questions and retweet interesting
professionally-relevant content to display your pro-active interest in the area.
Communicate: reach out to employers by engaging in discussions as above, but tailor your
interactions according to the tone of those you’re replying to. Thank others for posting
interesting content and respond to questions as well as posing them. Post links to relevant
articles with thoughtful comments to show you’re engaged with your field.
Add a professional photo,
plus a cover / background photo where appropriate
Complete your profile as
fully as possible, including
Summary, Work Experience
and Skills
Make sure your public
facing page is workappropriate
Add a description of yourself
in 140 characters
put a link to your online portfolio
or LinkedIn page
Request and add contacts
from your friends, colleagues, alumni, professionals in
relevant groups, industry experts, academic contacts, etc.
Follow industry bodies, news sites,
large companies and bloggers and
arrange your feed into lists
Ask for recommendations and
endorsements of skills
from appropriate people
Join Groups
Alumni, course / subject groups,
companies & organisations, industry
‘Like’ and comment
on others' posts,
share relevant
content
Share stories
Discuss Ideas
Congratulate others
FIND & APPLY
FOR JOBS
START
NETWORKING
FIND
CONTACTS
YOUR
PROFILE
Digital networking - How to use social media for job hunting
Find jobs
Through company pages, contacts and groups
Retweet and comment
on interesting posts
Join in and start
conversations
Search for opportunities
using #hashtags and user lists
Make contact with the organisations /
individuals you are applying to for insights into the position
GET THE JOB
Could I use any other social media platforms for job hunting?
Here are some more social media platforms, along with how they could be useful in improving your online visibility:
Video
YouTube and Vimeo are
the main video hosting
websites. They generally
allow the sharing
embedding of videos
within other platforms as
does Vine, which just hosts
six-second looping videos.
Photo sharing
Instagram is a mobilebased photo sharing app.
Flickr is an online
portfolio/ photo album
geared towards more
professional quality
photos, users can
comment and favourite.
Blogs
Tumblr, Blogger, WordPress
are all blogging platforms,
Tumblr is the most social
media-friendly as posts
are easily shareable and
‘liked’, and users follow
others to create a rolling
content feed.
Potential use for job hunting:
promote yourself with a video
CV, research organisations
and look at job-hunting tips.
reflect your interests via
your photos, build your online
presence.
create and share articles
about your chosen industry.
Research other industry
bloggers.
Others
Pinterest is an online pinboard for
collecting interesting content, and
users can ‘follow’ other’s boards.
Slideshare allows users to upload
presentations to the web and share
them online, Google+ is similar
to Facebook in its format, but
not widely used despite its useful
inbuilt Google functions.
create a job hunting pinboard, create
presentations, expand your online
presence.
CDS
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19
SECTION TWO: Applying for jobs
Use the grid on
this page as a
basis for your
application form,
CV or covering
letter.
How you apply will differ between vacancies, but it is likely you will have to submit your
application in one of three ways:
Application Form (see pages 21-25)
CV (see pages 26-37)
Covering Letter (see pages 38-43)
Although the methods differ, an effective application will contain the same key information
about you, so prepare now to make applying for any job more straightforward.
Where do I start?
Firstly, take a blank sheet of paper and list your experience, achievements and skills:
‘Tailoring’ your
application makes
it much easier for
a recruiter to see
how you would be
the right person
for the job.
Experience and achievements
Skills
This should include your university, college
and school education, any work experience,
placements or voluntary work which you
have done, involvement in the community,
university societies and sports clubs, plus
any positions of responsibility you have held.
Include any achievements which you are
proud of or which demonstrate transferable
skills, such as awards, prizes, travel, hobbies
and interests.
Even if your experience is unrelated to the
roles which you are applying for, anything
which you have listed in ‘experience and
achievements’ will demonstrate your skills.
For example, working as a sales assistant
might have developed your ability to
communicate with different people, work
under pressure at busy times and handle
difficult customers. Likewise, a university
group project may demonstrate that you
could work within a set timescale, meet
objectives, and work as part of a team.
Tailor your application
If you’ve researched the job and employer (see page 13), you should be able to write about
your skills and experience in a way which is specific to the vacancy. Ask yourself what is
it that the organisation will expect you to do, and think about how you can demonstrate
that you have the skills they require. Make the employer’s job as easy as possible by clearly
showing how your skills match their criteria. In addition, demonstrate your understanding of
the organisation and the nature of the business.
Try creating a grid for yourself like the example below: use the criteria from the job
you are applying for and match it to your list of experience, achievements and skills to
come up with good examples for your application.
Criteria
Your experience / skills
How demonstrated
Degree or equivalent
qualification
Excellent written and verbal
communication skills
Experience of working in a
busy office environment,
organising own workload,
managing conflicting and
tight deadlines
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A P P L I C AT I O N S , C V S & C OV E R I N G L E T T E R S
Application methods
Application forms
What are they?
Application forms could be online or on paper. Unlike a CV, these forms will usually ask you to
answer a set of pre-defined questions.
How do I go about filling one in?
Give yourself plenty of time to complete an application form, and allow time to review what
you have written. Aim to send the form as early as you can, as in the current economic
climate some employers close their recruitment once a certain volume of applications has
been received.
Allow plenty of time
to complete your
application, and
book in with a career
development adviser
for feedback before
you submit it.
What sort of questions can I expect?
Application forms typically ask for the following details:
Personal details
This section is fairly self-explanatory, asking
you for your name, address and contact
details, and possibly other information such
as date of birth and whether you hold a
driving licence.
Education
Present your qualifications to display
your best results prominently. Insert your
qualifications in reverse chronological (date)
order, putting the most recent first. List your
highest grades for each set of examinations at
the top of each list.
If the form asks for specific qualifications
which it is not easy for you to list – for
instance, if it asks for UCAS points when you
have international high school qualifications
– ask Career Developments Services on how
best to present your own set of qualifications.
Employment / work experience
Use reverse date order for your employment
details unless the instructions say otherwise.
When writing about what you did in each
job, describe your duties and responsibilities,
linking it where you can with the skills the
employer is asking for.
Include information about voluntary work,
particularly if it is related to the role or if
you don’t have a lot of work experience. This
will highlight the transferable skills you have
gained, which an employer should recognise.
On the other hand, if you have insufficient
space for all your jobs, you can group similar
jobs together or summarise your experience.
Make the most of this section by drawing
attention to particular achievements you have
accomplished at work or when volunteering.
Supporting statements
This is often a blank text box in which to write
your statement, so you may find that it is
easiest to break the supporting statement
down into different sections. You can create
your own headers from the job description
or person specification to demonstrate your
skills in an easily readable manner (see page
25 for more).
Alternatively, these can be grouped as
competency questions, which are specific
scenario-based questions set by the employer
which you are required to answer. See the
advice and information on the following
pages, including an example competency
question on page 23.
There is no need to formally introduce your
supporting statement as you would with a
covering letter.
Transferable skills
are the general
abilities gained
from university,
volunteering or parttime work which are
useful in other roles,
e.g. communication,
teamwork, etc.
Referees
It is usual to include the details of two
referees – usually a current or previous
employer, plus an academic referee such as
your tutor or course leader. Remember to ask
your referees for permission before adding
their details to your application
Additional information
Here you can add any information which you
feel is relevant to your application, but has not
been covered elsewhere on the application
form.
You can also use this to list dates you are not
available for interview, or to attach a covering
letter or scans of your qualifications, etc.
Equal opportunities
This section will not be seen by the people
involved in selecting successful applicants,
and will remain confidential to the Human
Resources department. It will be used to
monitor equal opportunities policies and often
asks for your gender, sexual orientation, date
of birth, nationality, ethnic origin, disability,
etc.
Disclosing disability
Some forms ask if you consider yourself to
be disabled. Visit our website for information
about factors to consider about disclosing
disability, or see the section on Equality and
Diversity on page 62.
Criminal records disclosure
This section is usually stored separately
from your application form to protect
confidentiality. Details that you provide
will be treated confidentially, and will not
automatically exclude you from being
considered for vacancies.
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21
Application Forms
Top Tips
Application
forms are used
by employers to
get a consistent
response from all
applicants...
...but that doesn’t
mean that you
can’t stand out
from the crowd
with your answers.
Download a copy of the application form so that you can complete it offline in a Word
document to start with. This means that you can use Word’s spellcheck and word
count, as many online forms don’t have a spelling or grammar checker.
Don’t automatically cut and paste information from other application forms or your
CV without adapting it to suit exactly what the form is asking for.
Most online forms don’t let you use features such as bullet points, so keep things
simple.
Some forms include personality questionnaires. The best advice is just to go with your
immediate response and give an honest answer (see page 46 for more info).
If you have questions about how to complete the form, call into Careers. Some
employers may also have a FAQs section on their websites giving advice.
Example Person Specification
Below is the type of person specification you might find as part of a job description. You can
use this template to form the basis of your answers as part of your application.
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
A degree, at least (2:2)
classification
English and Maths to
GCSE Grade C or above
Level 2/ 3 qualification
or training in Customer
Care
Skills & knowledge
Ability to co-operate
effectively in a team
Example
Leadership potential
Ability to manage time
effectively
Good presentation skills
Analytical and problem
solving skills
Experience
Experience of
working in a busy
office environment,
organising own
workload, managing
conflicting and tight
deadlines
Personal qualities
Ability to work on own
initiative with limited
supervision
Supervisory experience
Make sure that you mention all of the essential criteria and as many of the desirable
criteria as possible. Give examples where possible and quantify them with facts and
figures, such as how many people you supervised, the figures from any targets you had
to meet, or the financial turnover that you were responsible for.
If the form asks for a supporting statement in one block rather than being divided into
competency questions, you may find is easiest to use the Essential and Desirable criteria
as headings within your statement (see example on page 25).
There are several techniques which you may hear regarding answering interview and
application form questions. The most regularly used are
STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result
SBO: Situation, Behaviour, Outcome
CAR: Context, Action, Result.
In essence, these are similar; always give a specific example, describe the situation or
context, explain what you did and why, and what this achieved. The following page gives a
possible example.
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Application Forms
Example competency question
An example of a Customer Service application form using the STAR technique to form the
answer:
How can you demonstrate your
experience and skill in providing
excellent customer care,
particularly when dealing with
difficult customers?
Situation (spend around 20% of your
answer on this aspect)
During my part-time work in a large local
hotel I dealt with a difficult situation
involving a customer who wanted a
drink after last orders. The man became
rude and offensive when I told him that
I could not serve him as last orders
had been called five minutes ago. His
behaviour was affecting other guests,
and I could see the embarrassment
being caused by his shouting and foul
language.
Task (spend around 10% of your answer
stating this aspect)
Recognising the need to take control of
the situation so that all customers could
enjoy their time at the hotel, I decided to
try to calm the customer down.
Action (spend around 50% of your
I knew that he was a speaker at an
important conference being held in the
hotel and, to keep things discreet, I tried
to deal with this without calling security.
I calmly repeated the fact that I could
not serve him and offered him a glass
of water. I also told him that in his hotel
room his mini bar would be stocked with
drinks.
The man continued to shout and
referred to his position as a key speaker
at the conference. I politely told him that
I could not make exceptions to the bar
rules and that if he continued to behave
in that way I would have to have him
removed from the bar.
Result (spend around 20% of your
On hearing this, the man quietened
down and accepted the situation. I
offered to organise an early morning
telephone call for him the next day
to give him enough time to get ready
for his conference presentation. The
following morning the man passed
me in the hotel and apologised for his
behaviour in the bar.
Competency
questions on
application forms
are usually based
on the person
specification for
the role.
This answer relies on the ‘STAR’
technique to produce a clear, logical and
thorough answer to the question.
In the ‘situation’ section, you are
effectively setting the scene in order to
describe your behaviour in the particular
scenario:
What was going on?
What was the problem?
Sometimes
the letter ‘D’ is
added at the end
(STAR D) – ‘D’
denotes ‘what you
would have done
differently’.
In the ‘task’ section, state how you
recognise what needs doing by you. This
can just be a short factual statement.
In the ‘action’ section, you should speak
about what you did and how you did
it. Stay focused on yourself – say what
YOU did, not what others or ‘we’ did.
Use positive language to reflect your
achievements. Quantify your statements,
for example saying ‘I was responsible
for up to 50 queries per day’ or ‘I line
managed a team of five’. Avoid giving
opinions, as these provide no information
about what you did, and avoid talking
theoretically, such as by stating “I would
do…” or “I always…”.
In the ‘outcome’ section, indicate
clearly the results of your actions. Was
the problem solved? What about skills
gained? Did you meet the targets?
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Application Forms
Personal Statements
What are they?
Personal
statements are
also often used on
applications for
further study...
...for more
information:
www.brad.ac.uk/
careers/
postgrad-study/
pg-applications
In the context of a job application, a personal statement is a piece of writing in which you
outline your suitability for a vacancy.
The purpose of a personal statement is to allow the employer to decide if you meet their
requirements. Unlike competency questions (as detailed on the previous page), you will only
have one field to complete. This field will often be preceded by a statement such as “in this
space, please give your reasons for applying for this job and information showing how you
meet the person specification, including relevant skills and experience.” As it is one block
of text, you are given the chance to write freely about your suitability as a candidate, without
being restricted to specific questions.
How do I write one?
A personal statement needs to be wellstructured, logical, clearly written, and
free from grammatical and spelling errors.
Speak about your reasons for applying for
the post and your understanding of the
particular organisation, as well as your skills,
experience, and relevance of your studies
if applicable. It may help you to consider it
from the employer’s perspective. What would
they like to hear from candidates? Make it
reader-friendly and positive, and tailor it to
the job description and person specification
as closely as possible.
You can divide a personal statement into
different sections through subheadings.
Take the titles of your subheadings from the
person specification, to make it easy for the
employer to check that you have covered all
the relevant points. Any essential criteria in
the person specification must be addressed,
plus as many desirable criteria as possible.
If the vacancy details do not include a person
specification, use the job description, advert
and company information to understand
what skills they want.
Any top tips?
Keep to any word limits and check to see if you are invited to continue on a separate
sheet, if you wish to.
Be clear and concise and avoid long, complex sentences. Use positive language to
express your enthusiasm (see page 44 for suggestions).
Check your draft statement for spelling and grammatical errors.
Use formal English at all times (i.e. no slang or jargon).
Ask yourself after each sentence: is this relevant? Does it add to the statement or is
it just a ‘filler’? If so, you could be using that space more to your advantage.
Don’t focus on what you haven’t got to offer. You will only create a negative
impression of yourself. For instance, if you can’t meet one of the desirable criteria
but do want to mention it in your statement, write about how you would go about
meeting it in the future. Perhaps, for instance, you have not used a specific type of
software which is desirable; instead, you could mention the fact that you have used
similar databases, have transferable skills and that you are a quick learner.
Allow plenty of time to write this section; it may seem straightforward but you should
always proofread carefully.
If you have particular information which you want to provide, for instance a prize or
scholarship, sporting achievement or anything else which doesn’t fit easily into your
personal statement, this could go in the Additional Information section.
Arrange to see a career development adviser for feedback on what you have written.
Keep a copy of your form. It will be useful at the interview stage.
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Application Forms
Example Personal Statement
Business and Technical IT Consultant - Person specification
•
A degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.
•
Have a genuine interest in business and IT with a drive towards achieving a successful career.
•
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
•
An analytical, problem solving mind-set.
•
Proven ability to work under pressure within a fast-paced and challenging environment.
•
You are a team player who takes the initiative and shows a high level of commitment.
•
Geographic flexibility throughout the UK.
This example uses
the requirements
of the person
specification
as headings
to specifically
address each
point.
Please demonstrate how you meet the Key Criteria on the person specification
I believe that I am a strong candidate for the role of Business and Technical IT Consultant due
to my education, skills and experience, and feel that I would grow into the role and make a
real contribution to the company. I have outlined below how I meet the criteria of the person
specification:
A degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics
I graduated from the University of Bradford in July 2015 with a BSc (Hons) in Business Economics
2:1. My studies gave me an excellent grounding in core economic ideas, how these apply to
business and the environment within which firms operate.
Have a genuine interest in business and IT with a drive towards achieving a successful career
My studies confirmed to me that I am definitely interested in pursuing a career in business
economics, and I consistently scored high marks in modules where the use of IT tools was
necessary to analyse and assess data. In addition, I am a confident user of a wide range of IT
software such as Microsoft Office, economics applications including SAGE and various companyspecific software packages.
I would appreciate the chance to develop my career at your company, as your close links with the
University have given me the chance to see how other alumni have gone on to successful and
satisfying careers and this is something I hope to emulate.
Use positive, proactive language in
your answers - see
our ‘useful words
and phrases’
on page 44 for
suggestions.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Through group working on projects at university, my role as a career ambassador and my parttime job at Tesco I have developed excellent communication and interpersonal skills. I have been
required to negotiate disagreements between fellow students, communicate information about
careers to a wide range of students from varying backgrounds and work closely with my teammates at Tesco to ensure customers were served promptly and efficiently.
An analytical, problem solving mind-set
My final year dissertation involved the analysis of a small business. Looking at its finances
and other factors I put together suggestions to improve the efficiency of the organisation,
particularly through the use of a new IT system, to increase profitability by an estimated 25%.
Proven ability to work under pressure within a fast-paced and challenging environment
My job at Tesco has given me lots of experience working under pressure, particularly during the
Christmas period where customer footfall and product turnover is at its highest. After a year
on the produce team working weekends, I was made team leader in the lead up to Christmas.
I was responsible for monitoring stock levels and ensuring my team communicated effectively
and worked together to ensure all customers were served satisfactorily and all products were
available on the shop floor.
You are a team player who takes the initiative and shows a high level of commitment
When working on a group project at university, it soon became clear that one of our group was
not participating fully. I decided to take the initiative and call a group meeting to discuss the
sharing of the workload. At the meeting, it turned out the person didn’t fully understand what
was expected of him and was struggling with some of the details. I took it upon myself to spend
some time to help him understand these details and I kept in touch regularly to make sure the
project stayed on track. The project was a success and our group achieved the highest mark in
the class.
Geographic flexibility throughout the UK
I am willing to relocate for the role and am happy to travel as necessary. I have a full clean
driving licence and enjoy experiencing new cities and people.
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25
Applications
CVs
Produce a tailored
CV for each
application, and
save each one under
the name of the
job or employer for
reference.
Certain sectors may
have differences in
how they require
information - do
your research into
industry-specific
CVs.
What are they?
A CV is a one or two page document which shows your skills, achievements, qualifications
and experience. CVs vary from country to country, and the following section will address how
to make a conventional UK CV. The American English term for CV is ‘resume’, so you may also
hear this mentioned. Your CV gives an overview of who you are and what you have to offer an
employer.
Why do I need one?
CVs are often requested as part of the application process.
You will need one if you are making speculative enquiries to an organisation to find out if
there are any potential opportunities for you.
Recruitment agencies usually ask for a CV.
We recommend offering a copy of your CV to employers attending careers fairs, so make
sure you bring plenty of copies with you.
CVs are generally submitted with an accompanying cover letter, even when sent by email (see
page 38 for more on covering letters).
Types of CV
There are different formats of CV. To
choose the one which fits your purpose
best, think about the type of job you are
applying for, the organisation’s culture,
your experience and how you wish to ‘sell’
yourself to the employer. Types include:
Chronological: details your education
and work history in reverse date order.
Skills-based: emphasises the skills
you have developed throughout your
employment, education, voluntary
activities, etc. The details about your
employment and education are usually
kept to a minimum, with the focus
being a larger skills section detailing
your transferable skills. Evidence and
examples should be included to back
these up.
Hybrid: these CVs combine the above
two styles. They feature a more
detailed employment and education
section, as well as a skills section with
evidence and examples.
Infographic & Video CVs: are often
used in creative industries to help your
application stand out and present your
creative skills. This could be in the form
of an infographic CV, using graphic
design to showcase your skills and
experience in an interesting way, or a
video or animated / interactive CV to
show off your technical skills. However,
for traditional and non-creative roles,
a quirky CV may single you out for the
wrong reasons; try and gauge your
audience beforehand.
Academic: this type is most commonly
used in postgraduate applications for
research-based courses or lecturing
positions. This format places emphasis
on your studies, including projects you
have been involved in, dissertations
and publications you have written,
conferences you have attended or
contributed to and your areas of
academic interest and research.
For more information about applying for
postgraduate study, visit our website:
www.brad.ac.uk/careers/students-andgraduates/further-study/
How do I go about it?
Consider the above list and think about
what kind of CV you want to create. It may
help you to have a look at our CV examples
starting on page 30. It will give you an idea
of what information you should put where,
and how a professional CV should look. When
you are ready to start writing your CV, you
can start with a blank word document – or,
alternatively, you can use the CV Builder on the
Careers website to get started:
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/build-my-career/
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CVs
There is no rule about what you must include, but the following sections are typically what you
should put in all types of CV:
Personal details:
Do include: your name, address, telephone
number, current and most reliable email address.
You could also add your LinkedIn account or
other social media links if appropriate.
Don’t include: a photo, your date of birth,
gender, ethnicity, marital status, national
insurance number or religion in a UK CV.
Personal Profile:

An optional extra. If you do decide to use
one, make sure it adds value to your CV don’t just use generic buzzwords.
Focus on the role applied for, using
information from the job description and
person specification.
Include your personal qualities, experience
and skills.
Can be useful in explaining a change of
direction in your studies or career if you
have a varied work or educational history.
Education and Qualifications:

Work backwards, starting with university,
followed by your high school (A-Levels,
GCSEs or equivalents).
There is no need to put education prior
to high school in a CV. Put the full name,
dates, and overall grades acquired. There
is no need to put the address of each
institution in.
If you have overseas qualifications then you
should indicate their UK equivalence.
If it is particularly relevant or to highlight
transferable skills, you can include the names
of some of the modules you have studied at
university, perhaps your dissertation title,
any relevant modules and skills that you have
acquired.
If you have not yet graduated you can give your
predicted or expected degree results e.g. BSc
(Hons) Computer Science – expected 2:1. If you
have lots of additional qualifications, such as
ECDL, PRINCE2, COSHH, Health & Safety, you
can include them here or create a separate
Additional Qualifications section.
Employment History or Work
Experience:

Give the name of the business you were
employed at, your job title and the dates
of your employment in reverse date order.
Underneath this, detail your responsibilities,
duties and skills developed.
You should include any voluntary
experience in this section.
If you have a lot of work experience, you
may want to create a Relevant Employment
Experience and an Other Employment
Experience section.
Skills / Personal Qualities:
Provide information about any exceptional
skills you have, quantifying how you developed
them. For instance, rather than just stating
“I have excellent presentation skills”, provide
evidence, such as “My verbal presentation skills
have been developed to an excellent standard
as a result of delivering weekly seminar
presentations to groups of 20+ as part of my
degree”.

Match your skills to the job description,
rather than producing a generic list of
skills.
Try to avoid duplicating information shown
elsewhere on your CV.
Interests, Responsibilities and
Achievements:

Recruiters use
software to scan
your CV for key
words, so make sure
to use them in your
personal profile...
...e.g “skills include
marketing, social
media and HTML”,
“a strong
communicator
with excellent
presentation skills”.
This is optional, but many employers
value it as it can indicate teamwork, time
management and personal priorities.
Try to find a balance between your
activities, provide evidence, and show how
they enable you to develop as a person.
How often do you do the activity? What
level have you reached?
Include any positions of responsibility
you have held, such as treasurer of your
football club, or social secretary of the
pharmacy society, etc.
Additional Skills:
This is optional, but useful if you
have additional or specialist skills and
qualifications, especially if they are relevant
to your application. Think about the skills and
experience you have gained from your studies,
work experience and your personal life that
would be valued in the role, for example:
Laboratory skills: “I have an excellent
knowledge of laboratory techniques
including protein analysis, handling human
samples, analysis of vitamin C content by
titration...”
IT skills: “I have extensive experience using
Microsoft Office, SAGE, Java, HTML, CAD
etc.”
Languages: “I am fluent in reading, writing
and speaking Urdu and Punjabi”
Current First Aid Certificate from St John
Ambulance
Full clean driving licence
References:
Either give details of two people, or state
‘references available on request’. Ideally you
should have one academic referee and your
most recent employer.
Don’t forget to ask your referees for
permission.
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27
CVs
Formatting
See page 38 for
more on Covering
Letters.
If you are writing a
CV for postgraduate
study, have a look at
our website: www.
brad.ac.uk/careers/
students-andgraduates/furtherstudy/
Use a clearly legible font, e.g. Arial, Calibri, Verdana, or Tahoma, in no smaller
than size 11.
Put headings and subheadings in a larger font, and consider using bold, italics or
underline to emphasise them.
Make sure your dates are consistently formatted, clearly chronological and aligned.
Use consistent subheadings – for instance, list all previous employment items in the
same style.
Use short blocks of information, in bullet points if possible, as opposed to large blocks of
text.
Think carefully about use of colour – formatting for black and white is your safest bet
when it comes to reproducing your CV.
How long should my CV be?
A one page CV is acceptable for part-time work.
Two page CVs are the norm for graduate opportunities.
Longer CVs may be acceptable for academic positions, particularly if you have lots of
publications and conferences to list.
Will my CV be read?
In the current job market, employers receive a lot of CVs. Recent surveys suggest that
employers may only give a CV an initial 7-to-10 second glance before deciding if they want to
read it in more detail or discard it. Although this sounds worrying, if you make sure that your
CV is clearly laid out and you demonstrate valuable skills, the employer will want to read it
more carefully.
Should I embellish the truth to make my CV stand out?
Definitely not. Any lies on your CV are likely to be found out, which is likely to lead to your
dismissal if you get the job. Whether you are offered a job or not, if you are found guilty of
making a fraudulent job application you may be placed on the CIFAS Internal Fraud database
for six years, which would seriously damage your chances of finding work (see page 62 for
more).
How should I lay out my CV?
Place key information at the top of each page to have the most impact, and always start a
page with a new section; it is good practice to start and finish individual sections on the same
page.
See our CV guideline and example CVs on the following pages for more.
There are even more example CVs on our website:
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/applications/cv/
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CVs
Submitting your CV
Send your CVs in
PDF format by
email to make sure
the formatting
stays the same as
you intended.
Always send a covering letter together with your CV (see page 38 for more on covering
letters). Make sure you have read the submission guidelines and you are sending it how the
recruiter wants it.
By email
By post
Add your covering letter and CV as
attachments, rather than typing the
covering letter in the email itself.
Keep the email formal, professional
and concise when applying for a job.
See the example below - state that
your CV and cover letter are attached
for the consideration of the particular
position – remember, an employer
may have multiple vacancies
advertised at any one time.
Use a professional sounding email
address.
If sending your CV by post, use good
quality white or cream paper, and
a high-resolution printer to give a
professional impression.
Post early to ensure you meet the
closing date.
Print your CV on
good quality paper
- go for at least
100gsm.
Example Email
To:
Subject:
[email protected]
CV and covering letter for the post of Graduate
Data Analyst, reference 112/A
Dear Mr Johnson,
Please find attached my CV and covering letter to apply for the
position of Graduate Data Analyst. I would be grateful if you could
confirm receipt of this application by return email.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Maria Khan
[email protected]
07888 123456
Include the job
title and reference
(if applicable) in your
subject field.
Write in the formal
style, using ‘Dear...’
and ‘Yours sincerely’
etc.
Keep it concise and
simple - the covering
letter should contain
the details of your
application (see
Covering Letter
Guideline, page 40 for
more).
Provide your contact
details.
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29
CVs
CV Guideline
YOUR NAME (bold/font size 16)
Your full address and postcode (you can put it on one line to save space)
Email: use a professional sounding email address
Mobile: 07777 111 222
LinkedIn or other social media links if appropriate
Nationality: only if it has an impact on work permit issues
PERSONAL PROFILE or CAREER OBJECTIVE (optional)
About 3 to 4 lines (maximum). When these work, they can be highly effective but when they don’t, they can
be superficial and vague and a waste of space. If you want to include one, make sure it is effective and sells
you successfully. Focus on the role applied for and include personal qualities, experience and skills and make
sure your claims are specific and substantiated. If using ‘Career Objective’, then be sure it’s targeted to the
job and to the company. This is prime space on your CV so use it well.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS (in reverse chronological order)
University of Bradford
BSc (Hons) Business and Management Studies
2012 – 2015
Expected: 2.1
Final Year Project:
“E‐Commerce and the changing business process” – An analytical investigation, examining and identifying the
issues in business etc. You may use up to 4/5 lines if relevant.
Modules included: – Average 68%
Name of Module
xx%
Name of Module
xx%
Try to put in order of importance / relevance and no need to list all. You can add in individual results if you
think it will help your application.
Awarded the “Name of Prize / Award” for best overall student?
Name of School, Town or City (and Country if from/applying overseas)
GCE A Levels:
Subject (Grade), Subject (Grade), Subject (Grade) and Subject (Grade)
GCE AS Levels:
Subject (Grade) and Subject (Grade) (if grades are poor then leave out)
Year – Year
Name of School, Town or City (and Country if from/applying overseas)
GCSEs:
9 subjects (3As, 4Bs and 2Cs) including Mathematics, English and Physics
Year – Year
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY or WORK EXPERIENCE (in reverse chronological order)
Name of Company / Organisation, Town or City (Country)
Job Title






Month Year – Month Year
Be specific – tell them what you did, roles and responsibilities and the skills you have developed.
Give priority to experience and skills relevant to the job you are applying for.
Give evidence about how your skills were developed and use action verbs and quantify and
qualify your statements – see examples below:
“Handling and resolving up to 100 customer queries per day which enhanced and improved my
communication skills, particularly the ability to handle difficult customers professionally.”
“Responsible for a project worth £10K and led and managed a team of 10 staff.”
If you have any particular achievements then do mention them.
Name of Company/Organisation, Town or City (Country)
Job Title
 The bullet points above are still applicable but try to highlight different skills and don’t repeat
the same ones as above.
 Use the correct tense – past tense for previous jobs and present tense for current jobs.


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If the job is relevant to the one you are applying, give more details on responsibilities, however if
it’s not that relevant, you may want to concentrate on the skills gained.
If you have a large number of jobs that are similar, you could group them together.
STUDENT
CDS
CVs
CV Guideline
VOLUNTARY WORK EXPERIENCE (in reverse chronological order and only if relevant)
Organisation / Company Name, Town or City (Country)
Job Title
 Same notes as above; keep checking that, if possible, what you’ve written is fully targeted to the
job and to the company. Put your most responsible / demanding tasks first.
 “Raised £1K for Cancer Research by organizing…”
IT / COMPUTING AND / OR TECHNICAL SKILLS (alternatively a specific title, e.g. Laboratory Skills)


Can be useful as a separate section or you can include in the additional skills section below
Name the specific packages that you can use and indicate the level of competency. The
following are examples only.




Consistently good grades in various programming languages such as... (name them)
Proven competency using AutoCAD, SAP2000 and EuroCode 8 etc.
Extensive experience with Microsoft Office 2013 (Word, Access, Excel and PowerPoint).
Established user of social media – LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, with many subscribers.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS OR KEY TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Choose the skills that most closely match the career area or the job applied for e.g. teamwork,
problem solving, analytical skills, customer service, planning and organising.

E.g. Teamwork – From your education, work experience and leisure pursuits, pick out the best
examples of when you have demonstrated team working skills. Get down to specifics rather
than writing at a general level. Pick a key aspect or incident within each scenario that
demonstrates the skill, rather than trying to tell the whole story. Write about specific team roles
you are good at. Remind yourself of the skills needed for effective teamwork at
www.brad.ac.uk/careers/students‐and‐graduates/employability‐skills and the table on page 7.

E.g. Communication – Be specific as there are several ways you can communicate: face‐to‐face,
telephone calls, group or individual presentations to large audiences, etc. Be clear about whether
you are referring to verbal or written communication skills.

E.g. Languages – Depends on the job and your competency, useful to add but do state the level of
your skills.
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
Positions of responsibility (could also be written as a separate section)


President of the Economics Society – write down what you do / did and the skills gained.
Class / Year Representative – write down what you do/ did and the skills gained.
Volunteering
 Volunteering experience, e.g. charity fundraising which shows a commitment to a cause can go here. Put
in a separate section as above if relevant to the role you are applying for.
Leisure interests (use this section to try to show your personality and enthusiasm)
 Society memberships, outside interests, sports (a section on its own if you are very active in
sports and take part at competitive levels but useful to say how often you do something and
with whom (county / university / local league).
 Keep details brief but show how the interests enable you to develop as a person.
REFEREES
Names and addresses of 2 referees will be made available upon request.
[It is acceptable to put the sentence above but if you have space, give name, title, full address, telephone and
email contacts (usually one academic and one employer – but not GPs, friends or family)
Don’t forget to ask your referees for permission].
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CVs
Part-time Sample CV 1 (with some work experience)
ASMA BEGUM
10 Heaton Place, Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD9 7DD
Mobile: 07777 111 222
Home: 01274 123456
Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
BSc (Hons) Psychology
2013 – present
Grange Upper School, Bradford
2006 – 2013
A Levels:
Psychology (A), English (C) and Religious Education (C)
GCSEs:
9 subjects (1A, 4Bs and 4Cs) including Mathematics and English
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
March 2013 – present
Wilko, Bradford
Retail Assistant
 Working as part of a team to receive early morning deliveries, maintain warehouse standards
and provide customer service. I consistently fulfil my tasks before the end of every shift.
 Developed excellent communication and customer liaison skills. I have shown initiative and
teamwork skills by supporting other team members with their tasks after finishing my own.
Dec 2012
TK Maxx, Leeds
Customer Services Assistant
 Encouraged colleagues to reach work targets collectively creating team spirit.
 Tidied up the shop floor and maintained stock in pristine condition.
 Dealt with telephone calls and queries from other stores such as searching for coded items in
order to price them.
VOLUNTARY WORK EXPERIENCE
July 2012
Malik Solicitors, Bradford
Volunteer
 Carried out a range of clerical duties such as photocopying and filing; familiar with a range of
office equipment.
RSPCA, Keighley
Volunteer
 Worked as part of a small team from a variety of social backgrounds to run an RSPCA
charity shop in Keighley town centre.
 Supported the manager by unloading deliveries and using practical skills to display goods for
resale.
SKILLS PROFILE





Communication – enhanced communication skills when interacting with customers at Wilko.
Teamwork – developed through playing for the netball team and taking an active role in the club.
Problem Solving – dealt with angry customers in a professional manner, resolving situations
using own initiative.
IT / Computing – proficient user of Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Languages – Urdu (fluent) and French (basic).
INTERESTS



Enjoy listening to music and reading autobiographies and books on psychology.
Keeping up‐to‐date with current affairs.
Vice-captain of local netball team playing league matches every week.
REFEREES
Names and addresses of two referees are available upon request.
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CVs
Part-time Sample CV 2 (with limited or no work experience)
JAMES SIMMONS
10 Downing Street, Cottingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1ZZ
Mobile: 07777 123 123
E‐mail: [email protected]
PERSONAL PROFILE
A Business and Management student with strong organisational ability; skilled at working closely with
others in a team environment and with a flexible approach to work. Currently looking for a part-time
role in retail or a customer services environment.
2012 – 2016
BSc (Hons) in Business and Management Studies
2005 – 2012
Bingley High School
A Levels:
Business Studies (B), English (C) and Mathematics (C)
GCSEs:
9 subjects A‐C, including Mathematics and English
RELEVANT SKILLS
Communication
 Experience of liaising with younger students and teachers in my role as a Mentor at Bingley High
School. Found different ways of explaining things to help Year 9 students with their
maths homework.
 Presented project work both individually and as part of a team during my Business Studies
A- level. This involved preparing PowerPoint slides, delivering a presentation to a varied
audience and producing a written report.
Teamwork
 Play football, helping and supporting the team to do their best by encouraging others even
when we are not playing well. Regularly attend training sessions help with coaching the junior
team.
 Worked with a team of four students to produce a business plan for an assessed project. I
arranged some social events for the team to help us get to know each other; knowing each
other’s strengths helped us work better as a team and achieve a good grade for our project.
Responsibility
 Several of the neighbours on our street at home regularly arrange for me to house‐sit when they
are away, as they trust me to ensure the security and maintenance of their properties.
ADDITIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
2010 – 2011
July 2010
Captain of Bingley High School Football Team.
Grade 4 Award for guitar.
LEISURE INTERESTS


Enjoy playing and watching football, playing the guitar and swimming.
Other interests include keeping up‐to‐date with current affairs and watching business
programmes on TV.
REFEREES
References are available upon request
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CVs
Graduate/ Full-time Sample CV1
RIFAT KHAN 12 Christchurch Mount, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 4BW Tel: 0113 224 6778 Mobile: 07745 987655 Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/rifat‐khan/44/224/438 Profile As a highly motivated Biomedical Sciences undergraduate, I have gathered a range of experiences during my studies. With such a diverse curriculum, I have become skilled in many different areas, both practically and theoretically. A combination of my previous work experience, qualifications and a continuous need to develop personally and professionally, demonstrates that I enjoy challenges and always rise to meet the expectations I have set for myself, and those of my employer. Education and Qualifications University of Bradford BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences Modules studied include: Biochemistry Human Endocrinology 2013 – 2016 Predicted class of degree: 2.1 68% 69% Haematology Microbiology Montgomery High School, Leeds A Levels: Biology (B), Chemistry (C) and Mathematics (B) GCSEs: 8 subjects (2As*, 3As and 3Bs) including English, Mathematics and Science 64%
65%
2008 – 2013
Laboratory Skills •
•
Excellent knowledge of basic laboratory techniques including protein analysis and titration methods of
quantitative chemical analysis, used to determine the concentration of reagents of known and unknown
substances.
Appropriate aseptic techniques used to obtain samples, including sterilising loops to streak individual
colonies onto agar and then carrying out serial dilutions to reduce the concentration of cells in samples.
Competent in using light microscope to observe cell structures and spectrophotometers to measure
transmittance of solutions.
Accurate testing of urine and blood samples for disease, such as testing for urinary tract infection.
•
Careful data handling and analysis to e.g. find the normal body functioning ranges.
•
Maintaining professional standards of Health and Safety.
•
•
Relevant Work Experience Research Volunteer, University of Bradford Jan - March 2015
 Volunteered to assist a post‐doctoral researcher in the Institute for Cancer Therapeutics with her
experiments associated with research into “bacterial lipoproteins as vaccine targets”.  Work had to be 100% accurate and planned meticulously.
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Key Skills Communication and presentation : • My degree enables me to socialise with not only people of different ages to myself, but also people
from different cultures. I have developed confidence in communicating with others and working with a wide range of peers  Verbal communication skills were developed through conducting market research at ABP News, where I
conversed in a clear and concise manner, listening carefully to respondents to capture information. Adaptability:  As a personal tutor I regularly adapted my manner and style, dependent on the person I was dealing
with, showing my ability to work flexibly to suit the needs of others.  Within my Research Volunteer post I regularly changed my work plans to support the work of my
supervisor, by initiating meetings and working flexibly within the team. Team working:  At Age UK, I worked with other volunteers, agreed tasks and completed them efficiently.
 Group based projects at university have developed my skills in working within a team to meet targets,
share tasks, compromise and work with individuals who might not have the same goals as my own.
 Playing volleyball and archery has taught me fair play, how to discuss and plan tactics, how to be
supportive, how to listen and value others’ opinions or strengths.
Innovation:  Within my role with Age UK, I took responsibility for creating and organising themes to market
available stock effectively and increase sales. I chose seasonal and topical window display themes to attract customers to the shop. Other Work Experience
ABP News, London 


Summer 2015 Responsible for overseeing the work of 7 staff at this busy newsagents and general store,
while also working as a cashier providing courteous and prompt customer service.
Dealt with stock ordering, banking, and resolving customer complaints efficiently and politely.
Organised monthly staff rotas according to business needs, negotiating with staff as required
to fill unpopular shifts.
Private Tutoring 

March 2012 – May 2013 As a mathematics tutor for individual pupils, I overcame problems through creating learning
strategies to facilitate my students’ learning.
I also constructed academic target plans for my students and motivated them to succeed.
Volunteer at Age UK, Headingley, Leeds Oct 2011 – Sept 2012  Here I created displays in the shop and supported customers with their enquiries.
 I also organised and coordinated fundraising activities in the local area.
Positions of Responsibility and Interests 



Treasurer of The Biomedical Sciences Society; responsible for a budget of £3,000. Led the organisation
of a trip for 50 students to a scientific conference in Berlin.
Course Representative; which involves negotiating solutions to issues put forward by fellow
students at Course Management meetings and informally with staff.
Active member of Archery and Volleyball societies, I also have a keen interest in yoga and running.
Participated in the Cancer Research Race for Life run in 2014.
References
Available on request.
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CVs
Graduate/ Full-time Sample CV2
JENNIFER SIMMONS
10 Morley Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 7DP
Tel: 07777 111 222 (mobile)
01274 777777 (home)
Email: [email protected]
BA (Hons) Social Work (year 2 average = 66%)
Year 2 Modules: Child and Family Social Work, Law, Mental Health, Practice Learning 1, Working
with Adults.
2013 – 2016
Year 1 Modules: Academic, Personal and Professional Development, Communication Skills: Children
and Adults, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Social Work, Social Work Values and Ethics and
State and Society.
2006– 2013
A Levels:
AS Levels:
GCSEs:
Unity College, Bradford
Sociology (B), Psychology (B) and Business Studies (D)
English Literature (C)
English Literature (A), ICT (B), French (B), Mathematics (C), English (C) Dual Science (C),
History (C) and Religious Education (C)
RELEVANT VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE
Oct 2014 – present
Volunteer Playworker, Abundant Life Church, Bradford
 Looking after children aged 5‐7 years, playing games, helping them with art and crafts and
supervising meal times
 Working as part of a small team, assisting play‐leaders in devising activities, preparing and
setting out materials for play
 Helping children develop literacy and numeracy skills through play
 Developing patience and empathy skills and an awareness of child development
 Liaising with parents, answering queries about their children’s progress
 First aid training for minor health problems e.g. asthma, allergies, minor injuries
Jan 2012 – March 2013
Youth Action Volunteering, All Saints Primary School, Bradford
 Assisted play‐workers at the after‐school club, helping out with activities being run for the
children such as games and sports, cleaning up at the end of the session
 Learnt to stay calm and handle emotional and behavioural problems, encouraged children to
participate in activities together, developed listening skills and the ability to relate to children of
different ages
 Worked with children with learning difficulties and ADHD
OTHER EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Nov 2013 – present
Refreshment Assistant, CineWorld, Bradford (Weekends)
 Serving refreshments to customers and providing a friendly and welcoming service
 Remaining calm when working under pressure during the busy weekend shifts
 Regularly demonstrating enthusiasm and flexibility in relation to working hours when asked
to stay on to cover shifts due to staff shortage
Summer 2013
Receptionist, Tempest Consultancy Ltd, Leeds
 Provided support to the director, took incoming calls from clients and members of the public,
used initiative to book appointments and answered basic queries
 Ordered stock, calculated VAT on invoices before sending them out to clients, responsible for
outgoing post and distribution of internal mail and packages
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Summer 2012
Administrative Assistant, Leeds Magistrates Court
 Assisted with general administration and updated client records.
 Learnt to maintain confidentiality due to the sensitive nature of the work activities and court
proceedings
 Was commended for being polite, punctual, reliable and enthusiastic in my work
KEY SKILLS
Communication
 Ability to use appropriate oral communication skills when working with primary age children in
playwork roles
 Enhanced spoken communication skills through speaking to clients over the phone at Tempest
Consultancy, listening to the customers’ needs and responding in a clear and concise manner
 Developed the ability to ask questions and listening skills through studying and conducting
interviews in research methods modules
 Written communication skills developed through completing essays and writing up reports at
university
Working with others
 Working with a team of playworkers, learning how to assist with tasks and keep them informed
about progress or problems
 Extensive experience of working in teams gained through playing hockey i.e. discussing tactics,
listening to and evaluating team members’ ideas, recognising strengths and motivating each
other
 Learnt leadership skills by coaching and motivating primary school pupils as part of my Sports
Leadership Award
Organisation
 Assisted in planning and organising activities for a primary school summer fair as part of my
Sports Leadership Award
 Helping to plan and organise play activities, sourcing and setting out the required play materials
 Was always punctual and worked to set timescales at Leeds Magistrates Court in preparation for
court sittings
IT/Computing
 Competent in the use of Microsoft Office packages: Word, PowerPoint, Access and Excel at
university. Used SAGE accounting software to record customer invoices
 Regular user of email and the internet for research; keen user of Facebook and Twitter
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS


Sports – currently on the hockey team at university and was a Sports Leader for two years at
Unity College, gaining a Sports Leadership UK Level 2 Award accredited by the Qualifications and
Curriculum Authority.
Social – enjoy an active social life with friends, dancing, ice‐skating, cinema, bowling, and going
out for meals.
REFEREES
Mrs Sue Beardsworth
Lecturer
Richmond Road
West Yorkshire
BD7 1DP
Ms S Jylha
Director
Tempest Consultancy
29 Harley Street
Leeds
LS1 9QR
Tel: 01274 236767
[email protected]
Tel: 0113 328 6129
[email protected]
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Applications
Covering Letters
What are covering letters?
Be professional,
positive and
enthusiastic in
your writing, see
page 44 for a list
of effective words.
A covering letter usually accompanies a CV and can be used for applications by post or
online. If an advert asks you to ‘apply in writing’ or ‘send your CV’, you can safely assume that
a covering letter is required as well.
The purpose of the covering letter is to get the reader to look at your CV by introducing,
highlighting and drawing out some of your key selling points. It is also your opportunity to
give more detail about some of the points of your CV. Your letter will form the employer’s
opinion of you as a candidate before they have even met you, so make sure it is written to
create a positive impression of yourself.
How do I write one?
As with a CV, email
or upload your
covering letter
in PDF format to
keep the layout as
you intended.
Ideally, your letter should be one side of A4. Use short paragraphs to make it easy to read,
professionally laid out and use clear, formal English.
If you are sending it alongside a CV, the two should look like a professional package together,
so use the same style and size of font for both, and if you are posting them use the same
quality and colour of paper.
Top tips:
Think of your covering letter as a compelling argument to show how you are the best
person for the job.
Keep it to one page only and use the same font and formatting as your CV.
Reflect the terminology in the job description and person specification in your writing.
Always proofread thoroughly. A good idea is to read it out loud or to get a friend to read
it for spelling and grammar mistakes. You can also book an appointment with Career
Development Services to have an adviser look at your letter before you send it off.
Turn negatives into positives. For instance, rather than saying “unfortunately I do not
have the required six months experience of working directly in an IT support role”, you
could write “I have voluntarily undertaken numerous website design projects for local
charities. Recently I was responsible for designing a website using Java SE8. I would be
thrilled to continue to develop these skills in a professional capacity”. This way, although
you may not meet the specific criteria, you are showing that you still possess the
required skill and ability to develop.
If you require a visa to work in the position which you are applying for, you may wish to
mention this at the end of your covering letter. State it simply and confidently, perhaps
offering a link where the employer can find out more information rather than giving
them too many details. If it sounds too complicated, it may put them off interviewing
you, so state the facts plainly.
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Covering Letters
It may be useful to structure your covering letter by dividing it into the following sections.
You can even copy these headings into your letter to give you a starting point, and when you
are happy with what you have written, delete them.
Section 1: who are you and why are you
writing?
If you are sending this letter after having
spoken to someone, you could start with
something like: “Further to my recent
conversation with Miss Tracy King at the
Graduate Recruitment Fair on 21st October,
I am pleased to enclose a copy of my CV as
she suggested”.
If you haven’t spoken to someone, you
could start with something along the lines
of “I recently saw the position of Graduate
Management Trainee advertised on your
website, and would like to apply for the
role. I have enclosed a copy of my CV as
requested”.
Section 2*: why you?
You should explain in a positive and
enthusiastic way the things you can offer
the company, rather than what you can
gain. Avoid phrases such as “I believe I
could gain valuable experience with your
company”, instead focus on your skills
and experience which the employer may
benefit from. For instance, you may write
something along the lines of “having
worked for a large supermarket chain
during the last two years, I have gained
experience of dealing with and resolving
customer queries and complaints. I have
thoroughly enjoyed this experience, and
believe it would be beneficial to your
organisation”.
Section 3*: why them?
Avoid generic, non-specific phrases such
as “I am applying to you as you are a
large multinational company with a great
reputation”. Instead explain what it is
specifically about this organisation that
makes you want to work for them.
For example, “I am particularly interested
in clinical trials as I am looking to embark
on a career in pharmaceutical research
and development, and am specifically
interested in your organisation’s current
research into drugs to fight cancer”.
If you have been inspired to apply
after speaking to someone from the
organisation, you could mention it here e.g.
“I recently met one of your representatives
at the University of Bradford Careers Fair
in October, and became very interested in
your organisation, particularly…”
Try to explain
what you can offer,
rather than what
you will gain from
the job.
Do your research
and make sure to
include specific,
personal reasons
why you’d like
to work for the
organisation.
Section 4: the positive ending
End positively, suggesting the next steps.
If writing in response to an advertised
position, you could state when you are
available for interview, or say that you are
looking forward to hearing from them. For
instance, “I am particularly interested in
this position and hope that you want to
learn more about my background. I am
available for interview anytime”. You could
then provide details of how you can be
contacted e.g. “If you have any queries,
please do not hesitate to contact me either
by email at (state email address) or by
telephone (07777 123 456). I am available
anytime after 3pm”.
If applying speculatively, you could ask for
the opportunity to meet e.g. “I hope you
will find my details of interest. Should you
feel there might be a suitable opening,
now or in the future, I would be pleased
to discuss this with you”. Or if you are
planning to follow up with a phone call, you
could say when you intend to phone e.g. “I
hope you will find my CV of interest and I
will be in touch to arrange a suitable time
to speak with you next week”.
*Sections 2 and 3 can be rearranged as necessary. Use your judgement or ask a career
development adviser which order makes the strongest argument for your application (the Sample
Covering Letter on page 42 is an example of how to change the order to good effect).
On the next few pages there is a Covering Letter Guideline, along with example covering
letters for part-time and graduate level work.
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Covering Letters
Covering Letter Guideline
Put in name (if available) and job
title of the person you are applying
to, together with company name,
full address and postcode.
Your Name (if you wish)
Full address
Postcode
Your tel. no. and email
(Ideally all text to be right aligned)
Today’s date
Dear (Name of person applying to e.g. Ms Berry or Sir or Madam),
RE: JOB TITLE OF ROLE APPLYING FOR (plus Reference number if relevant)
Speculative letters also need a title e.g. ‘CIVIL ENGINEERING PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
2015/16’
Section 1 – This should be where you clearly state what position you have applied for – if you
choose not to list it as shown above. You may find it useful to say where and when you saw it
advertised, or if a speculative application what type of role you are seeking. You can inform the
employer at this point of the degree/course title you are studying/have studied, how relevant
to the role applied for and possibly your classification if graduated. Maybe also let them know
that your CV is attached for their information.
Section 2 – This is really your opportunity to sell yourself to the role by showing what it is that
you have to offer that makes you an ideally suited candidate and one that they must progress
to the next stage of selection. To do this, you should address the key requirements of the role
by highlighting what relevant skills, qualities, qualifications and work experience you have to
offer the organisation. Employers prefer applicants to give specific evidence showing how they
have a particular skill. For example, if the advert specified someone with good influencing skills:
“Last summer, I worked for a market research company where on one Saturday, I successfully
persuaded over 40 shoppers to stop and answer questions relating to their buying habits,
despite their initial reluctance”. Do not directly repeat what is on your CV but pull out the points
the employer will be most interested in.
Section 3 – This is your chance to say what particularly attracts you to the organisation to
which you are applying. It is essential you show that you have carried out research and thought
about why you are applying. It is a chance to show that you know what they do and possibly
what particular projects or work the organisation is doing that attracts you to them. Re-read
the job advert, check out the website, company literature and any relevant articles and journals.
Try to avoid saying salary, number of holidays and such like as this is what YOU will gain and not
what the organisation thinks is good about their goods, services, research etc.
Section 4 – Try to finish off your letter on a positive note; there are many ways to do this.
Suggestions include “I hope you will find my details of interest, however, if you have any queries
then please do not hesitate to contact me on the above number. I look forward to hearing from
you in the near future.”
Yours sincerely, (if you started with “Dear Name e.g. Ms Berry”) Yours faithfully, (if you started
with “Dear Sir or Madam”)
Space for your signature (unless sending electronically; or scan your signature if you wish)
Your name (in full, not initials)
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Covering Letters
Sample Covering Letter (for part-time work)
The Branch Manager McDonalds Plc. Forster Square Retail Park Bradford BD99 1XX George Smith 22 Great Horton Road Bradford West Yorkshire BD7 5EE Today’s date Dear Sir/Madam, PART‐TIME CREW MEMBER / CUSTOMER SERVICES I am writing to enquire of the possibility of working part-time as a Crew Member with McDonald's. I am currently in my first year studying BSc (Hons) Business and Management at the University of Bradford. Prior to coming to Bradford, I have worked in retail / customer services roles; I therefore believe that I have developed the necessary skills and qualities to make an effective and immediate contribution. As a Sales Assistant at ASDA supermarket in my hometown, I worked as part of a team of ten, responsible for providing good customer service mainly in the Fresh Food Department. My main duties were to check morning deliveries of goods and to ensure that the stocks were replenished daily. Other duties included working at the till and handling and resolving customer queries. The experience has further developed my skills in communication, team work and customer services. I have also worked as a Volunteer with Cancer Research, UK where I have raised funds and
awareness outside various shops and supermarkets for the charity. To date, I have helped raise £1,500. In all of my work experience, I have always been a reliable member of staff and have 100% attendance. As a full-time student, I will be available in the evenings after 6pm and any time during the weekends. I am flexible and will be able to adapt (within the time stated above) to suit your requirements. In addition, I also hold a Food and Hygiene Certificate which is valid until Dec 2016. Your branch location attracts me as I have observed how busy it is and how much the team seem to enjoy working in the environment. I relish working under pressure and would like to continue working within customer services. I hope you find my details of interest. If you have any queries, please contact me on my mobile (07719 111 222) or my email ([email protected]). I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, George Smith George Smith A P P L I C AT I O N S , C V S & C OV E R I N G L E T T E R S
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Covering Letters
Sample Covering Letter 2 (in response to an advert for a graduate job)
Ms Louise Brownlee
HR Manager
James Lewis
Oxford Street
London
W1A 5ST
6 Grange St
Bradford
BD9 1ZP
Today’s date
Dear Ms Brownlee
Graduate Retail Management Training Scheme
I am a final year student at the University of Bradford, predicted to gain a 2:1
classification in my BSc (Hons) Psychology, and wish to apply for the Graduate Retail
Management Scheme, as advertised on my university’s careers website. I attach my CV
for your consideration.
My commitment to a career in retail management has developed through my part-time
and vacation work in a department store, where I have gained promotion to supervisor on
weekend shifts. This experience has given me the chance to run a section of a busy
department store, solve problems and keep the staff team well organised and motivated.
I am particularly interested in James Lewis because of the great success of your
business model, involving fast turnaround of stock and introduction of new clothing
ranges every 2-3 weeks, the opening of new stores throughout Europe and your effective
use of online shopping to generate sales. Your reputation as an employer who develops
its workforce and gives early responsibility to graduate trainees further attracted me.
My degree course has provided me with many transferable skills that would enable me to
perform well on the graduate programme. I am a good team worker, through working
successfully on several group projects on my course. The experience has shown me that
I am able to get people to co-operate well in teams, as well as keeping a team on track to
achieve its goal. Studying psychology has developed my analytical skills and my
dissertation enabled me to carry out a small scale research project, which included
designing and undertaking a survey and interpreting qualitative data.
My leadership potential has been tested out in several ways at university, such as
through my role as President of the Psychology Society at university and as a Course
Representative. In the latter role I have successfully negotiated solutions to problems, put
forward by my peers, including a co-ordinated approach to the setting of assignment
deadlines across the whole degree programme. This required good communication and
perseverance.
I am a hard worker, strongly motivated to work in retail management and am able to bring
energy and enthusiasm to this role, which I believe would be of great value in motivating
others.
I hope you will find my CV of interest and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Anna Cartwright
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Covering Letters
Sample Covering Letter 3 (speculative application for a graduate job)
Mr William Brown Project Team Manager (IT) Happy Computers 40 Adler Street London E1 1EE 73 Field Street Great Horton Road Bradford West Yorkshire BD7 0ND
Today’s date Dear Mr Brown, OPPORTUNITY WITHIN IT I am enclosing my CV in the hope that you may have an opportunity arising within your IT department, ideally in a support role. I am due to complete my BSc (Hons) Business Computing degree from the University of Bradford in June 2016, and am confident I possess a range of skills, experience and qualities to make a long term contribution to your organisation. As you can see from my attached CV, through my degree, I have developed a wide range of technical skills from software development, networks and operating systems to database design and web development. Recently, I voluntarily designed and implemented a website for a small local charity using Java.net. This was a really enjoyable experience and I am still responsible for updating this website on an ad‐hoc basis. In addition to my existing IT skills, I learn quickly how to use new software and am always eager to learn from others. Having worked in the Geoban Financial Call Centre over the past 18 months, I have gained experience of answering incoming calls by listening to customer requirements, diagnosing their needs and providing appropriate solutions. Through my experience working at Café Kebab, I have demonstrated a range of skills including the ability to build rapport and work with different types of people and believe I could fit easily into your team. Working on busy Saturday nights demonstrated my ability to handle pressure and deal with stressful situations. Furthermore, my organisational skills are strong as during the first semester of my final year I juggled working 20 hours per week, undertaking voluntary work, completing my coursework and preparing for exams, yet I still received an average of 67% across my modules. I am very keen to work for Happy Computers because of your outstanding commitment to both client service and third sector work, with social responsibility at the heart of all your activities. I understand your core business focuses on making charities and housing associations more effective by providing cost effective, high quality ICT training. As a keen volunteer myself, I have a desire to make a contribution to other charities and would really enjoy working for an organisation with this ethos and client base. In addition, I am aware that Happy Computers has been rated one of the top three IT SME training companies in the UK for the past three years. I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter and would be delighted to discuss any possible opportunities with you. I am available for interview at your convenience and can be contacted by telephone on 07777 123 456 or by email at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Yours sincerely, Ahmad Noor
Ahmad Noor
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Applications
Useful Words & Phrases
It’s easy to repeat words and phrases when writing about your skills and experience, so
here are some suggestions to help you avoid repetition and add a sense of action and
positivity to your application.
These active,
positive words
portray a pro-active
work ethic on your
application.
As well as effective words to help describe yourself, below are lists of active words grouped
together under their basic meaning:
Describing Your
Personality
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Achieved
Administered
Collated
Communicated
Completed
Co-ordinated
Demonstrated
Distributed
Ensured
Expanded
Facilitated
Interacted
Liaised
Maintained
Networked
Operated
Participated
Performed
Planned
Presented
Processed
Programmed
Promoted
Provided
Reacted
Represented
Responded
Specialised
Undertook
Unsupervised
Volunteered
Adaptable
Capable
Competent
Consistent
Customer focused
Dedicated
Determined
Diligent
Effective
Efficient
Experienced
Expertise
Flexible
Focussed
Goal-oriented
Hard-working
Helpful
Honest
Keen
Proactive
Productive
Proficient
Profitable
Qualified
Resourceful
Successful
Thorough
Trustworthy
Valued
Versatile
Willing
Remember that
the spell checker
function isn’t always
100% accurate,
especially of you’ve
used the wrong word
but spelt it correctly.
44
What you did
Made
Changed / Fixed
Started
Devised
Established
Implemented
Initiated
Introduced
Launched
Proposed
Arranged
Broadened
Completed
Controlled
Determined (an issue)
Eliminated
Improved
Minimised
Modernised
Organised
Refined
Repaired
Resolved
Restored
Revamped
Simplified
Solved
Streamlined
Strengthened
Transformed
Built
Composed
Created
Designed
Developed
Engineered
Generated
Produced
Helped
Advised
Assisted
Enabled
Encouraged
Motivated
Started
Devised
Established
Implemented
Initiated
Introduced
Launched
Proposed
Looked At
Analysed
Assessed
Consulted
Diagnosed
Evaluated
Identified
Instigated
Monitored
Planned
Quantified
Recommended
Researched
Reviewed
Demonstrated skills in...
Proven track record in...
Extensive academic / practical background
in...
Experienced in all facets / phases / aspects
of...
Accurately checked...
Experience involved / included...
Knowledge of... / experienced as...
Successful in / at developing...
Extensive training / involvement in...
Reported to senior management when...
Constant interaction with...
Disseminated results of analysis...
Provided technical assistance to...
Professionally handled...
Worked closely with...
Familiar with...
Efficiently organised...
Supported customers and colleagues with...
Planned and managed...
Researching, assessing and synthesising...
Initiated financial savings by...
Promoted to…
CDS
Applications
Selection tests
What are selection tests?
Selection tests are tests set by some employers to help them to find out if you have the
required skills, aptitude and personality to carry out the role successfully. Not all jobs will
require you to complete a test prior to employment. There are many different types of
selection test – the ones that come up most frequently are listed below. Companies usually let
you know which tests you are required to complete in advance.
When will I take a selection test?
You could be asked to complete a selection test as part of the initial application, or at any
point during the interview process. Tests may be done at home on a computer or at an
assessment centre (see page 47 for more details).
The term
‘psychometric tests’
can be used for a
range of selection
tests - this section
explains the
different types you
might experience.
Psychometric Tests
What are psychometric tests?
There are two types of psychometric tests:
Aptitude tests (sometimes just called psychometric tests) may be set by an employer to
determine your skillset, knowledge and ability in particular areas.
Personality questionnaires explore your interests, values and motivation.
Aptitude tests
have definitive
correct answers,
but personality
questionnaires
don’t.
Aptitude Tests
What is an aptitude test?
The most common types of test are:
Verbal reasoning tests – to test your ability to interpret and understand written
arguments.
Numerical reasoning tests – to test your ability to interpret and understand data in
tables and charts.
Diagrammatic reasoning tests – to test your ability to extract and apply logical rules
from a series of diagrams and symbols.
Spatial reasoning tests - to test your ability to visualise objects in space and imagine 3D
objects, useful in engineering and design roles.
How do I complete a psychometric aptitude
test?
You usually need to complete this test on
a computer. This may be online at home
on your own computer before shortlisting,
before or after an interview, or on location
at an assessment centre.
It will be timed and, if taken at interview
or at an assessment centre, is taken under
exam conditions. If you do not finish the
test in time, try not to worry – you are not
always expected to finish all the questions.
Generally, try to complete questions to an
accurate standard, rather rushing through
to complete as many questions as possible.
Sometimes, you will be allowed paper or
a calculator to help. The employer should
provide information on what is required
beforehand. If in doubt, ask.
How can I prepare?
There are ways of preparing for these to give
you a better chance of achieving a higher
score.
The best advice is to practice these
tests as much as possible. University of
Bradford students have free access to
Graduates First practice tests. See how to
log in at: www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/
applications/psychometric-tests/
See Resources, page 62 for more places
to find practice tests.
How will I be assessed?
After you have completed your test, the
results will be calculated. Your results may
be compared with other candidates’ results,
or rated against an expected standard.
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Applications
Selection tests
Personality
questionnaires
and SJTs assess
your values and
ethics to see how
they fit with the
organisation.
Take these
tests seriously
- they can be a
significant part of
the recruitment
process.
Personality Questionnaires
Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs)
What is a personality test / questionnaire?
There are no right or wrong answers for
these. Instead, they ask questions about
your interests, values and motivations,
through which recruiters can analyse if your
personality fits in well with the ethos, service
area and cause of the organisation.
What are SJTs?
These are multiple-choice tests which give
an employer an idea of how you behave
under certain circumstances.
How do I complete a personality
questionnaire?
It is likely that you will complete these tests
at home at your own computer early on
in the recruitment process, although you
may also be required to complete them at
an assessment centre. These are generally
made up of lots of very short statements
where you are required to indicate how
strongly you agree with each one. There
are no right or wrong answers, and you are
unlikely to be strictly timed.
How can I prepare?
You can familiarise yourself with the format,
but as the tests are entirely based on your
honest responses, you don’t need to practice
to improve your chances of being successful.
The employer will gain an insight into your
personality to see if it matches what they
are looking for in an employee. However, do
not try and tailor your responses to what
you think will be favourable. It is impossible
to tell what employers are looking for in
candidates on this level, and there are
built-in checks to ensure your answers are
consistent (you may notice that similar
questions come up multiple times) – these
tests can be a clever way to judge your
integrity, as well as your personality. An
employer is trying to work out how you do
things, not how well.
How do I complete a SJT?
These tests are usually done online. They
will usually occur early in the recruitment
process, often from your own home
computer as part of the application form.
On the web page, you will be presented with
a scenario and multiple possible responses.
You may be asked to select the one response
which most fits in with your working style,
or to rank the responses in order of your
own personal preference, or mark which you
would be most and least likely to do.
How can I prepare?
As with personality tests, you cannot
practice for this in the same way you would
a verbal or numerical test as there are
no strict right and wrong answers but it
is objective. Be as truthful as possible – if
you do not score highly, this may usefully
indicate that you would not enjoy the role, so
it is best to be honest. However, you can see
online examples here: www.assessmentday.
co.uk/situational-judgement-test.htm.
The employer will use your answers to see if
you are a good fit for the workplace.
Top tips:
If you can, practice so you are familiar with the test style and format. Simply getting
comfortable with completing online tests and doing number and word puzzles can
increase your score (see page 62 for suggestions).
Think about what particular test you might face for your type of job or industry.
Look on similar companies’ websites for examples and ‘past papers’.
Don’t panic: aptitude tests don’t require advanced algebra or knowledge of
Shakespeare. Brush up on GCSE level maths and practice good grammar.
Take everything you need, including a watch, and read instructions carefully. If you
are not given an indication of what to take (if at an interview or assessment centre)
contact the employer beforehand to ask.
If there is no right or wrong answer within the type of test you are completing,
answer honestly.
Don’t dwell on questions – if you are unsure of an answer, move on. Use any time left
to check your answers, but don’t be disheartened if you don’t finish all the questions,
as the tests are meant to be challenging.
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SECTION THREE: The interview process
Assessment Centres
What are assessment centres?
An assessment centre is often the last stage in the recruitment process for many graduate
roles. If it is part of the process, you will usually be invited to attend an assessment centre
after the initial application stage.
It may last from half a day to several days, and provides an opportunity for the employers
to get to know more about you, to see how you perform at certain tasks and judge
your interaction with others. Employers are checking to make sure you have the right
competencies and are a good fit for the role.
What should I expect?
You will probably experience a range of
activities, such as interviews, psychometric
testing, individual and group exercises. This
will be explained to you on the day, although
you may be provided with some information
in advance, which you should study to help
you prepare. You will be told when and
where to report on the first day. Starting on
the next page there is an outline of what you
may face.
How can I prepare?
Thinking ahead to the likely activities at the
assessment centre will help you to be calm
and collected on the day and improve your
chances of success. You should also research
the company itself, see pages 52-53 for
information.
Where are assessment centres held?
Assessment centres are usually held in
company training centres or a hotel, so
that there are comfortable surroundings,
a variety of rooms for the activities, and
peace and quiet away from the demands of
the normal working environment. However,
this will depend on the role, and you may
be asked to attend an assessment centre
at a more relevant location (e.g. at the local
retail store for graduate trainees in retail
management).
How many candidates are invited?
This will depend on the role, but typically,
you will be invited to attend an assessment
centre with up to 30 other candidates. You
may then be divided into small groups.
As this is usually the last stage in the
application process, the numbers will be
small but the quality of candidates will be
high. However, you are not necessarily in
competition with others; it may be that every
candidate who achieves a certain score in
the activities is offered a position, or that
some candidates are applying for different
roles.
What should I bring?
You may receive a checklist from the
employer stating what to bring to the
assessment centre. Make sure you bring
everything listed, including any official
documents requested, otherwise you may
not be able to take part. You should also
bring a notebook and pen, and a watch to
time yourself during tests and activities.
Thoroughly
research the
employer prior to
the assessment
centre - see page
52 for information.
What should I wear?
Dress formally, as if you were going to an
interview. You should take smart clothes
to last the duration of the centre. This is
particularly important if the assessment
centre lasts for a few days.
What if I have a disability?
If you want the employer to make
appropriate adjustments, contact them in
good time to discuss your requirements.
These could include extra time given
to candidates with dyslexia, physical
environmental adjustments, specialist
equipment, materials in alternative formats,
etc.
Read your
invitation letter
carefully and
plan your travel,
clothing and
accommodation (if
necessary) well in
advance.
How should I behave?
From the moment you arrive, you will be
under scrutiny, so be professional and
courteous at all times, including during
social events. Try to relax and be yourself,
but ensure that you uphold good manners,
polite behaviour and act in a pleasant
and friendly way towards candidates and
company personnel. Assessors often ask for
the opinions of other company personnel
who have met you. Do not treat others as if
they are in competition with you, as you will
also be assessed on your ability to get on
with others.
You will be expected to socialise well
with other candidates as well as with
management, and you are likely to be
observed at break times and at social events.
If alcohol is available, don’t feel obliged to
drink and don’t overdo it; it will be noted, and
you may regret it.
Will I get expenses?
Travelling expenses are normally mentioned
in the assessment centre invitation. Keep
receipts, as you may need them to reclaim
expenses. Some organisations impose a
spending limit, i.e. standard rail tickets, or
petrol plus hotel accommodation of up to
£80. If expenses are not mentioned, it is
perfectly acceptable to make enquiries.
ASSESSMENT CENTRES & INTERVIEWS
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Assessment Centres
On the day
You should have
an idea of the type
of activities from
the invitation, but
be ready for some
surprises.
When you arrive at the assessment centre you should be ready to start work. After a brief
introduction, you might go straight into a group exercise or test. At a longer event, you might
have an easy first evening with an employer presentation and a chance to mix informally with
company managers, staff and other candidates. Usually, information is sent in advance so you
should have a general idea of a plan for the day.
Although programmes vary, our advice is that you may encounter any combination of the
following activities. Many of them will be strictly timed, so keep an eye on the clock. You may
not have to do all the following tasks, but it’s good to be aware of what could happen.
The main thing to remember is that the activities are structured to test your competencies in
the various skills required for the role or industry. Read the job description and do your best
to make sure you stand out by demonstrating through the activities that you understand and
possess the relevant skills required for the position.
Remember,
employers aren’t
necessarily
looking for the
loudest and most
dominating person
in the group.
Types of activities
Below are some of the more common tasks you may face as part of your assessment centre.
You may not have to do all these activities and you may encounter tasks and activities not
listed here.
Employer presentation
Group exercises
Often, the assessment centre will start
with a presentation by the employer
describing the organisation, their
graduate scheme and career progression
opportunities. Generally, you are not
assessed during this activity, but pay
close attention to what is said as it may
be useful to you at a later stage (perhaps
during one of the activities). Look
interested and ask questions.
In these exercises, the group may be
given a problem to solve with a specific
objective. It usually isn’t straightforward,
and every approach may have
disadvantages as well as advantages. The
problem may be a physical puzzle to solve,
such as building a bridge, or a theoretical
one, such as a scenario-based emergency
situation where you are presented with
facts of the case and must logically
work out the best option. Exercises can
be undertaken both indoors and out.
The outcome is to aim for an agreed
plan of action defined by the end of the
exercise, so negotiation and compromise
are important. You may have to present
your findings in an individual or group
presentation at the end of the session.
Communication and teamwork exercises
Ice-breakers
As the name implies, these are initially
exercises to ‘break the ice’ and to get
everyone working together; a willingness to
contribute and get involved in the activity
is important. These might involve:
A formal and generic short
presentation lasting around two
minutes where you stand up one at
a time to introduce yourself to the
group. Alternatively, you may be asked
to find out as much as possible about
the candidate next to you and then
introduce them to the group.
A less conventional approach, such as
doing a group task together, drawing
a picture or playing a game which
encourages communication and
building initial rapport.
Possible competencies being
assessed: verbal communication,
leadership, assertiveness, teamwork, cooperation, creativity, initiative and time
management.
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Make sure you understand the task, and
approach it in a logical way. Decide and
agree on the goals and priorities. Consider
allocating tasks to different team members
to use time effectively – perhaps do this
in a manner which utilises individual’s
skills, as you should have got to know one
another through the initial introduction.
Listen to others, contribute and don’t
dominate discussions.
assessed: working under pressure,
creativity, initiative, analytical / clarity of
thinking, verbal communication, numeracy,
time management, business /commercial
awareness, problem solving, and strategy /
action planning.
Assessment Centres
Committee exercise / debates
Case study
Within a committee exercise, group
members are designated roles and the
task may be to come up with a consensus
plan that the committee agreed on and
puts forward. In this case the topic might
be very vague, so the discussion has to be
kept focused if the committee is to achieve
something.
This could be a group or individual exercise
in which you are given official reports,
tables of figures, newspaper cuttings,
memos, etc. and a problem to solve.
Alternatively, the group may be given
a business case study, which has to be
analysed and understood before making
suggestions for subsequent action. You
may be asked to make a presentation
about the key issues and suggested
strategy, demonstrating that you or the
group can respond well to assessors posing
questions.
Within a debate, a topic question may be
given and the members are free to discuss
the pros and cons of different angles
concerning it. Make sure you contribute,
but listen to others as well and try to
involve everyone in the debate. It will
be noted if you don’t contribute to the
discussion, but likewise it will be noticed
if you dominate the discussion and don’t
listen to others. Be assertive but not
aggressive, and put your points across
firmly and fairly, responding to others
politely whether you agree or disagree
with their points. Remember, the selectors
are not expecting you to be an expert on
the subject under discussion or the task
to completed, but they do want to see
evidence that you can make an effective
contribution to a group.
There is often not one specific ‘correct’
answer in this exercise. Recruiters are
assessing your ability to analyse problems,
prioritise tasks and put forward effective
arguments with clarity and tact.
assessed: analytical / clarity of
thinking, planning and organising, time
management, working under pressure
and business / commercial awareness,
creativity.
See the list
of possible
competencies
being assessed
and try to
demonstrate
these.
In discussions,
focus on putting
forward effective
arguments rather
than trying to find
definitive answers.
assessed: team working, co-operation
/ interpersonal relationships,
communication, negotiation, time
management, planning and organising and
working under pressure
Problem-solving exercises
Psychometric aptitude tests
Certain aptitude tests, such as numerical reasoning and diagrammatical reasoning tests,
have problem-solving elements. This is one area which you can prepare extensively for. See
the previous section on psychometric tests (page 45) for details.
Possible competencies being assessed: specific skills such as maths and spatial
reasoning, logical thinking, time management, problem solving under pressure.
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Assessment Centres
Written and practical tests
Excercises may
be interrupted by
a ‘messenger’ to
test your ability
to work under
pressure.
Always keep an
eye on the time
during tasks.
In-tray / e-tray exercise
Applicant presentations
This task is designed to simulate the
administrative features of a job. For
example, you may be given a pile of
papers representing a post tray containing
emails, faxes, memos, letters, telephone
messages, reports and computer printouts.
Alternatively it could be entirely PC-based
(known as an e-tray exercise), where
you may be asked to organise and reply
to emails in Outlook, amend an Excel
spreadsheet, or summarise an article in
Word (or a combination of all the above
and more). Your task may be to sort the
documents according to importance and
evaluate how quickly to act, to draft mock
replies to the material, or to prioritise your
workload as if this was your desk in the
morning.
This may be about a case study (see
previous page), or about a specific topic
given to you either prior to or on the
day, with a short time to prepare. These
can be individual, or in groups. If an
individual presentation is required, but no
specific presentation topic given ahead of
schedule, it’s worth having a presentation
prepared about a topic of your choice. If
you know that the subject will be given at
the assessment centre, think about how
to structure a presentation, consider what
type of visual aids you might use, and find
out what resources are available.
To prepare for a presentation about
yourself, use our Elevator Pitch Builder
on Build My Career :
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/build-mycareer/
Think about your audience – don’t
use technical jargon if they are not
familiar with the terminology. Technical
information is difficult to present, so
choose a topic of wide interest. Make sure
your presentation has a clear structure
and be careful about telling jokes – not
everyone may appreciate your sense of
humour. Speak clearly and stick to the
time limit.
Be prepared to answer questions posed
by the assessors at the end of your
presentation – use this as a chance to
clarify aspects of your presentation in
more detail.
General advice for this is don’t just work
from the top down, and if you are provided
with instructions, ensure you read them
as thoroughly and accurately as possible
within the given time, as it may be testing
your attention to detail. Sometimes,
the exercise may be complicated by a
messenger, calling at your ‘office’ every
few minutes or so, delivering more
material.
assessed: planning and organising /
prioritising, judgement, time management,
written communication, basic computer
competency, and working under pressure.
IT and computer-based tests (numeracy,
literacy)
An IT test will help employers to assess
your IT literacy. You may be tested on
programmes which you would use in
the role, or on general Microsoft Office
or internet searching skills. If you think
this may come up, the best practice is to
refresh your Microsoft Excel, Word and
PowerPoint skills beforehand to make sure
you are composed and confident on the
day.
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assessed: verbal communication,
confidence, time management, information
handling, adaptability and initiative.
Report writing / essay
You may be asked to analyse information
independently and then present your
summary and findings in a written report
or essay.
Psychometric aptitude tests can be used
to test your abilities within certain areas
such as literacy and numeracy. These
won’t require in-depth knowledge but a
practical and efficient understanding. For
instance, you may be asked to select the
correctly spelt words in a multiple-choice
exercise, or asked to do practical sums
which involve sales receipts. You can find
more information on computer-based tests
in the section on psychometric tests (page
45).
The essence here is to think clearly. You
will be assessed on how you use your
skills to present focused information that
others will understand, the reasoning
for your decisions and to test you on
your written skills (spelling, grammar,
etc.). Alternatively, you may be asked to
write a letter to a customer based on the
information presented explaining clearly
and tactfully why you will not extend their
contract to supply a specific product or
service.
assessed: information handling, general
computer skills, specific IT software
skills, typing skills, numeracy or literacy,
information handling, attention to detail
assessed: information handling, written
communication, analytical / clarity of
thinking, reasoning, business / commercial
awareness, initiative, judgement and
customer service.
CDS
Assessment Centres
Interviews
Assessment centres usually include an interview. This may be either one-to-one or with a
panel; see the interviews section on the following pages for more information.
Go over the content of any previous interviews you have had and remind yourself of tricky
questions and think about what they didn’t ask. On this occasion there could be a specialist
who does the kind of work you are applying for as well as human resources staff, so there
may be more in-depth technical and functional questions about the role.
Get fully involved
in every task and
you will leave
satisfied that you
did your best.
Possible competencies being assessed will vary depending on the job description.
Study this and try to provide evidence throughout that you fit the specifications required.
Top Tips
Be professional at
all times, anyone
you encounter
could be assessing
you.
You are likely to do better at some activities than others but don’t worry too
much - a strong performance in one area can balance out a weaker performance
in another. Although there may be a minimum score set for each of the
competencies the employer is looking for, you don’t have to do brilliantly in
everything to be selected.
Always pay careful attention to any instructions, if in doubt ask for clarification.
Give everything your best shot – get fully involved in group activities, be
assertive and persuasive but diplomatic too. In group activities, show that
you are listening to others by smiling, nodding and maintaining eye contact.
Acknowledge and build on good points made by other group members as well as
putting forward your own case.
Friendly conversation with other candidates will help you to relax – all (or none)
of you may be successful at this particular assessment centre.
After the assessment centre
Your assessment centre finishes only when you leave the organisation, so be professional at
all times. Reflect on how it went, highlighting what went well and what you could improve on
in the future. You can consider sending an email to thank the organisation for considering
you, if you are very keen. Overall, most candidates find assessment centres tiring but
enjoyable.
When will I hear the results?
What if I’m not successful?
How long it takes you to hear back varies;
it can be within a day to few weeks. Usually
the decision is fairly quick so you will soon
know where you stand. If you get a job offer,
remember that you need to be sure that
it’s what you want before you accept. An
assessment centre should give you a good
idea of the company and whether you will
like the job.
If you don’t get an offer, learn from the
experience and consider contacting the
company for some feedback. At this stage in
the recruitment process, employers will often
provide feedback if asked.
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Interviews
Congratulations on
being shortlisted
for interview, but
there’s more work
to do...
...see the details
on the following
pages on how
to prepare for
a successful
interview.
What are interviews?
An interview is a formal discussion between you and the recruiter, in which the recruiter asks
questions and you are given the opportunity to prove your suitability for the post.
An interview may be conducted by one person or by a panel of people. Usually interviews
happen in person, but they may also be conducted by telephone or Skype. If you’ve been
invited to an interview, you can safely assume that, on the basis of your application,
the employer considers you to have the potential to do the advertised job and they are
considering you as a prospective employee.
What do I do if I’m invited for an interview?
This is your opportunity to convince the employer in person that you are the best candidate,
so make the most of it by planning and preparing. Don’t assume that they will remember
your application, CV or cover letter – they may be doing multiple interviews, so try and draw
attention to the strong points of your application and CV - you don’t necessarily have to
provide fresh evidence.
Preparation is vital. It will give you confidence, control and the ability to deal effectively with
any question. Employers may schedule tests, tasks or presentations to take place during the
interview but you should be informed of these in advance.
Information about specific types of test is available in the sections on Selection Tests (see
page 45) and Assessment Centres (page 47).
How should I prepare?
Research the employer:
You should show in your interview that you know who you are applying to work with. Read the
company’s website, see if you can get hold of their annual report (this may be on the website)
and follow the organisation on LinkedIn and Twitter. A good way of researching this may be
to conduct a SWOT analysis on the company (Strengths / Weaknesses / Opportunities/
Threats) as in the example below. You may find it helpful to create a table to help you
remember information. Find out the company’s size, products or services, turnover, location,
organisational structure, competitors and position in the industry / service as a whole.
After you have researched the employer, think about how you fit in with what you have read.
What personal and technical skills, knowledge, qualities, values and experience can you offer
which fits in? Do the aims and ethos of the company fit in with your own? Are there varied
locations requiring geographical mobility? Will the size or location of the employer affect
promotion prospects?
Think of ways in which you could show how the relevance of your past experience, knowledge,
personal qualities and skills will meet the needs of the job and enhance the workforce of the
particular employer.
Example SWOT Analysis for Bradford Organics Baby Foods:
No. Employees:
49
Location
West Yorkshire
Products &
services:
Baby food range with
courier delivery service
available
Turnover:
£200k per annum
Structure:
Director overseeing two
teams
Competitors:
Specialist companies e.g. Cow &
Gate, Farley’s. High street retailers
e.g. Boots, Lloyds. Megastores
e.g. Tesco, Asda. Other local
independent shops.
Strengths:

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Locally based
Organic focus
Home delivery
Hampers and gifts
available
Weaknesses:

Poor advertising
campaign
No social media
presence
Ordering by phone
only
Opportunities:

Expansion into
other areas, e.g
baby clothes, toys
and gifts.
Online ordering
system to improve
efficiency
Threats:

Cheaper products
aggressively
marketed by
competitors
Price rises by
suppliers
Interviews
Preparation
Research the job
Research the sector
You should research the job area in general.
The Prospects website, www.prospects.ac.uk,
contains a large number of job descriptions.
Click on ‘jobs and work experience’, and
then ‘types of jobs’. Read up on the general
activities and skills requirements each role
entails. Speak to friends and family in similar
roles and become familiar with the general
tasks and terminology of the role or industry.
Commercial awareness is an important
employability skill (more on page 7). Read
industry journals, quality newspapers,
company reports and watch business
related TV programmes. Check for videos
concerning the industry and company
on YouTube and join industry groups
on Facebook and LinkedIn. Look at new
developments and find out how the industry
is changing. Try to formulate your own
opinions regarding these issues. You can
find out more about commercial awareness
on our website: www.bradford.ac.uk/
careers/develop-skills/commercialawareness/
Re-read the job description, person
specification, and/or list of the required
competencies. You can use these to work
out what kind of questions will be asked.
Think about what personal qualities, skills,
experience and knowledge are required?
What levels of commitment, motivation
and initiative are needed? How can you
demonstrate these to an employer?
Try to write down examples which you
can give to demonstrate each of the points
on the job description, person specification,
and competencies list.
When you feel you understand the sector,
think about you and the employer in its
context. What you could do for the employer,
or what experience do you possess which
could make their business or service more
effective?
Make a list of your
skills and use
them as a basis for
your answers at
the interview.
TARGETjobs is
also useful for
researching career
areas :
www.targetjobs.
co.uk/careersectors
Research interview techniques
The are a number of different kinds of
interviews you may face (see page 57
for details). Some will focus on your past
experience, while some will ask you more
about situations and skills. There is no way
to be certain what questions will be asked.
However the below advice is likely to apply
to all interviews:
Build your confidence: If you are
going to convince the employer that
you are the right person for the job,
you first need to convince yourself. In
an interview, you are demonstrating
your knowledge, skills, experiences,
abilities and personal qualities to an
employer. Researching the job, industry
and company will help to give you this
confidence, so that you can come across
positively.
Be prepared for probing questions:
We all have less positive experiences
at some times. If you are conscious of
inconsistencies, failures or changes of
direction in your life, prepare yourself
to respond to questions about them.
Think about what you have learnt from
the experiences, and emphasise positive
outcomes.
Be prepared to talk about your
application: You may be asked about
details you have provided in your CV,
covering letter or application form.
Interviewers may look closely at the
evidence you have provided in your
written application before the interview,
and want to explore your background in
greater depth.
Alternatively, interviewers may not
look at a candidate’s CV again, either
because they don’t have time, or to give
everyone a level playing field. Therefore,
always keep a copy of your CV, covering
letter or application form, and re-read
this before the interview. Refresh
yourself on the information you have
provided the employer, and be prepared
to elaborate on the examples you have
provided.
Be prepared to talk about the job,
the employer and the sector: If you
have done your research as the above
sections detail, this should come fairly
naturally to you. Speak honestly about
your understanding of the job and how
your research into the area has led you
to the conclusion that you should work
in the area.
Formulate answers which showcase
what you can offer: One technique is to
write down a list of five points which you
really want the employer to know about
you which showcase your skills. Try to
get these points across in the interview.
Remember, if you don’t tell them what
you have done and achieved, they have
no way of knowing.
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Interviews
Preparation
Preparing for questions
For details of the
STAR technique
see pages 22-23.
Practice using the
Interview Simulator
on Build My Career:
www.brad.ac.uk/
careers/build-mycareer
Refer back to the job description and
person specification to think about the
types of questions you may be asked.
One resource which you can use to
create realistic interview questions to
practice with is the Interview Simulator
on Build My Career (see details on left).
Book a mock interview with a career
development adviser at Career
Development Services. You could also
rehearse your answers out loud with a
friend, it’s really useful to practice and
get feedback prior to the day.
If you have any contacts in the sector,
ask them to suggest possible questions.
Consider the interviewer – what would
you ask a candidate if you were the
recruiter, and what answers would you
like to hear?
Practice the STAR technique: a useful
technique for answering interview
questions is the STAR technique:
S = Situation (20% of your answer)
T = Task (10% of your answer)
A = Action (50% of your answer)
R = Result (20% of your answer)
Structuring your answers in this way
will give your answers a logical format
and allow the employers to identify
your skills clearly. It may not be suitable
for all answers, but particularly in
competency-based interviews you
may find this technique helpful. It will
help you to remember to always put
a positive spin on information that
you offer, and to focus on yourself
throughout your answer. See pages 2223 for more examples and information.
Practical preparation
As well as mentally preparing yourself for the interview, you will have to consider practical
factors and logistics:
How do I get there?
Check the venue and travel arrangements
to make absolutely certain you will arrive
on time. If you are in any doubt where the
interview will take place, telephone the
company and ask. Allow time for delays
when getting there – nothing is more likely
to jeopardise an interview than arriving
late. Better to be 30 minutes early than 3
minutes late.
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What should I wear?
Plan what you will wear. At an
interview your appearance needs to
be smart but at the same time it is
important for you to be comfortable.
Don’t overlook the importance of
clean shoes, well ironed clothes, smart
haircut and tidy appearance.
If you can afford it, invest in a new suit
or jacket to boost your professionalism
and confidence.
What should I take with me?
How can I handle nerves?
The email / letter inviting you to
interview, location map, a copy of your
CV / application form, notes on key
points you want to make, and questions
you would like to ask.
Money for a taxi (in case you are
running late).
A bottle of water.
Any certificates asked for. This will
usually be copies of your educational
qualifications, and your passport or
birth certificate. Read the list carefully
and follow the instructions, as you
may be turned away if you do not have
specifically requested documents.
If you have a portfolio of your work,
take it with you. Offer it if it seems
appropriate (perhaps at the end of the
interview), but don’t force it on your
interviewer(s).
Some interviewers allow candidates
to refer to copies of their CV
or application form and the job
description during the interview. Check
with them if you want to do so.
Don’t worry if you feel nervous or
apprehensive before the interview.
Remember that interviewers are not
expecting you to be perfect. They will
be looking at your future potential, and
whether you have the ability, knowledge
and motivation to fit into their organisation
and make a valid contribution.
CDS
These are things you can do to prepare to
help with nerves:
Arrange a practice interview with a
career development adviser, or go
through some typical questions and
answers with a friend.
Try to get a good night’s sleep the night
before your interview.
Eat breakfast on the morning of your
interview, and try to drink plenty of
water throughout the day.
Breathe. Try taking a deep breath in,
holding it for a few seconds, and then
exhaling fully, repeating as necessary.
Think positive thoughts to put you in
the best frame of mind.
Interviews
At the interview
First impressions
The impression you create in the first 60 seconds can be very important in creating the right
rapport between you and the interviewer(s):
Be courteous and friendly towards everyone you meet – anyone may be assessing you,
including the receptionist you report to in the first instance.
Remember to switch your phone off as soon as you arrive at the interview.
If you are a smoker, make sure you have mints or spray to remove the tobacco smell long
before you enter the building – the smell lingers.
Make an effort to present a confident appearance and greet the interviewer(s) with a firm
handshake.
Wait to be seated – don’t just assume one of the chairs is yours.
Above all, try to stay positive and remember that any experiences you have as part of a
recruitment process are an opportunity for you to learn and to develop.
Body Language
Your body language when answering questions can be as important as what you actually say.
Non-verbal signals such as your gestures and posture, your tone of voice, and the type of
words you use all affect the way the interviewer will view you. There are four important areas
of body language:
Eye contact: maintaining eye contact
conveys listening, interest and honesty.
If it’s a panel interview, look (mainly)
at the interviewer who is asking the
question but also make sure you glance
at or include the others on the panel
when responding. Don’t stare at your
interviewer but make eye contact
naturally as you would in a discussion.
Facial expressions: smiling naturally
and frequently indicates a good rapport
with the interviewer, and indicates
that you are confident and relaxed and
potentially can fit into the team.
Thinking positively
can help you relax
and portray a
confident image.
Your body
language is
important, but
remember to focus
on answering the
questions fully.
Posture: sit well back and comfortably
in the chair. Relax (but be careful not
to slouch) with your feet firmly on the
ground.
Gestures: no movement at all is not
natural, and may be considered as
passive and rigid behaviour. However,
if you have the tendency to fling your
arms around, clasp them on your lap.
Answering questions effectively
Listen carefully and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or repetition if you don’t
understand the question.
Answer questions as fully and positively as you can. Try to strike the right balance
- avoid answers which are too long, repetitive or offer irrelevant or superfluous
information, but also ensure your answers are not too short and blunt to offer little
evidence and information. If in doubt, you can ask the interviewer “Would you like me
to continue…?”
Don’t answer questions in a negative way e.g. “I just…” or “I only…” when talking about
your experiences. On the other hand, don’t tell lies – it’s simply not worth it.
During the interview, if you feel you have been talking too much or too little, or if you
feel you have been too familiar, don’t be afraid to adjust your style for the remaining
questions.
Don’t be afraid to come back to previous questions asked if you feel you haven’t been
able to get some things across - the end of the interview is a good time to do this.
See previous page and pages 22-23 for details of the STAR technique.
Will I be asked to do additional tasks at the interview?
An additional test often forms a part of interviews. These could be delivering a presentation, a
psychometric test (see page 45), or an administrative task. You will be informed in advance if
this is the case. For further information on other activities, turn to pages 48-51.
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Interviews
Types of questions
The key themes that interviewers usually focus on are:
Interviewers
may ask specific
questions based
on your CV, so
make sure you are
familiar with it.
Why have you applied to this organisation / for this job? - What you know about the job
/ sector / organisation.
What can you do for us? - How your skills, education, qualifications, knowledge and
experience fit the role.
What kind of a person are you? - How your attitude, drive, values, motivation and
personal qualities fit in with the job and workplace.
What distinguishes you from all other applicants?
Your interview is likely to include questions based on all of the above themes, so you should
make sure you prepare detailed responses for each of them. Below are some specific types of
questions along with more examples of things you could be asked.
Think about the
employability
capabilities on
page 7 - how have
you demonstrated
these?
Types of questions - examples
Questions relating to your education,
qualifications, interests and work
experience:
Why did you choose the University of
Bradford and why this course?
What do you enjoy most / least about
your work placement and why?
What do you think you have gained from
your time at The University of Bradford?
Tell me about your final year project /
dissertation / thesis.
What do you regard as your greatest
personal achievement?
Tell me about your interests outside of
your academic studies.
Questions aimed at finding out more
about you (attitudes, values, motivation,
personal qualities and interpersonal skills):
What do you think are your particular
strengths? What are your areas for
development?
What skills / qualities do you think make
you suitable for the job?
What do you look for in a job?
What other qualifications are you
considering?
Are you willing to travel for the role?
Where do you see yourself in five years’
time?
Technical / specialist questions
It is likely that at some stage in the selection
process you will be asked questions or have
a separate interview to test your knowledge.
Make sure you do your research and be
ready to demonstrate your knowledge.
Examples:
Tell me about your thesis / dissertation /
final year project.
Describe your experience in database
design.
What experience have you had of
analysing new systems?
How would you improve our store
layout?
What do you think about the new drug
on the market?
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Hypothetical / Situational questions:
“What would you do if…?” best describe
these types of questions. These are used to
test your specific knowledge, experience or
judgement.
Examples include:
What would you do if you were the
Managing Director of this company?
Our ‘After Sales Service Department’
has been receiving an increasing
number of complaints from customers
recently. If you were the leader of the
team, what would you do?
If you found someone unconscious on
the pavement, what would you do?
An important client has indicated that
you should sell his shares when they
reached a particular price but that you
should check with him first. You were
unable to contact him despite trying for
the last few days, what would you do?
A supplier has just informed you that
he cannot deliver an essential product
you ordered tomorrow – you were
counting on this delivery as it will affect
production. What would you do?
You may not have a complete answer but
state the steps you would take to clarify the
problem and possible courses of action. The
employer is looking for a rational, sensible
approach rather than a complete solution.
Theoretical questions:
What do you think are the difficulties
and key issues facing our industry?
How would you define marketing, human
resources, etc?
What do you understand by the term
‘management’?
What do you think are the qualities
needed to be an effective civil engineer,
social worker, teacher, business analyst,
etc?
Interviews
Types of interview
1:1 Interviews
Panel Interviews
These are conducted by one person,
although there may be another person
present to take notes. You might undergo
several such interviews following each
other, with different individuals interviewing
you, and with each interview focusing on
particular or specialist skills.
Here you are questioned by a panel,
generally made up of three or more people.
There is usually a chairperson to co-ordinate
the questions, a specialist who knows about
the job in detail and a HR specialist. Such
interviews are popular in the public sector.
This type of interview is generally conducted
as a first stage interview or at an assessment
centre where there will be other activities for
employers to build a fuller picture of each
candidate.
These interviews can be daunting, but
remember that every candidate has to go
through the same process – try to treat them
in the same way as you would a one-to-one
situation.
Direct your answers initially to the person
who asks the question, but also try to include
everyone with appropriate eye contact as
you give your answer.
Competency-based interviews:
Strength-based interviews:
Many employers use this form of interview
to check whether you have the experience
they are looking for (e.g. teamwork,
communication, problem solving, leadership,
planning and organising, and so on).
Some recruiters are now using strengthbased interviews which focus on what you
enjoy doing and are passionate about. In this
type of interview, employers are looking for
positivity, enthusiasm and authenticity as
well as a general suitability for the role.
You can use examples from your work
experience, studies or social and sporting
activities.
You will be marked on a set scale, according
to how well you have demonstrated you have
the competencies required.
Examples of competency based questions:
Give an example of when you have had
to explain something to someone. How
did you ensure they understood you?
Tell me about a time when you had to
influence someone to your point of
view.
Can you give an example of when you
have provided good customer service?
Describe a situation where you have
planned and organised an event,
project or activity, which involved a
fixed deadline. How successful was the
result?
What aspects of your work have
involved working with others?
Open questions invite
you ‘tell a story’, and
go into detail with
your answer, e.g “Can
you tell us about a
time when you showed
initiative?”
Closed questions have
a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer
or a short factual
response, e.g “Did you
study at Bradford?”
but you should still try
to expand on these
answers and tell the
interviewers more
about yourself.
Rather than asking open questions,
strength-based questions are often shorter
and closed, so that the interviewers get
immediate response. Various signals such
tone of voice and body language will be used
to identify your enthusiasm, motivation and
pride in what you have been doing and your
achievements.
The benefit to an organisation is that this
style of interview identifies candidates who
will enjoy the role more, and perform better
as a result.
Examples of strength-based questions:

What are you good at?
What comes easily to you?
Describe a successful day you have had.
Have you ever built a relationship with
someone who doesn’t share common
goals with you?
Which do you like more – meeting new
people or completing a task?
See an example answer to a
competency question on page 23.
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Interviews
Types of interview
An MMI is in
interview
conducted at a
number
of different
‘stations’,
each with a
different task.
An interviewer
can detect your
attitude over
the telephone,
so smile and be
positive.
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)
Sequential Interviews
This is an increasingly popular screening
method to select candidates in regulated
professions, particularly for medicine,
dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, occupational
therapy, etc.
This involves several interviews in turn, with
a different interviewer each time. Usually,
each interviewer asks questions to test
different skills or competencies. However,
you may find yourself answering the same
questions over and over. If this does happen,
make sure you answer each one as fully as
the time before.
In this format, each applicant attends
numerous short interviews (‘stations’),
each of which is conducted by different
evaluators. Some of the short interviews
may involve role-play where you are directed
to act a part in a given situation. Other
stations may provide some information on a
topic and after receiving a prompt, you are
given questions to answer.
This allows recruiters to gain a variety of
opinions on a candidate, and test on a wide
range of topics and skill sets, from logical
thinking to cultural sensitivity.
Group Interviews
Occasionally (but very rarely), you may be
interviewed by a panel together with other
candidates. This is only usually seen in
teaching or PGCE interviews.
The trick for this type of interview is to
remember that you are not competing
against other candidates. All or none of you
may be offered the position. Other than this,
try to follow the same principle applies as
for other interviews, though you will need
to ensure that you allow other candidates to
respond to questions put forward to them,
as well as making sure that your answers are
heard.
Telephone Interviews
An increasing number of organisations are using telephone interviews as their first stage
of selection. These can range from a basic check to see whether you match the selection
criteria, to a very probing interview.
Generally you will be speaking to a person who will ask you questions in the same style as a
face-to-face interview, but this could be either pre-arranged or unannounced. Some people
find the process challenging, because the usual visual clues are missing, so it’s difficult to
assess how you are doing. Try to relax and act as you would in a face-to-face interview.
If a company rings you to conduct a telephone interview without having made an
appointment, politely say “Thank you for calling, do you mind waiting for a minute while I
close the door, turn off the radio, take the phone to a quieter room?” This will give you a
little time to compose yourself. If it really is a bad time, offer to call back, and arrange a date
and time that is convenient. It is important that you are in the right frame of mind to be
interviewed.
Preparing for a telephone interview:
Be ready 10 minutes before the
interview time. Get into the ‘interview
mentality’. Have your CV / application
form and a checklist of the skills or
qualities the employer requires in
front of you so you can clearly focus
on what they want.
Don’t forget to switch off your mobile
phone (if on a landline) as you don’t
want distractions. Make sure your
environment is free from interruptions
(make arrangements in advance and
if you live with others let them know
that you are expecting a telephone
interview call). If using a mobile, make
sure it is fully charged.
Think of the tone and volume of your
voice – be as enthusiastic as possible,
because the interviewer only has your
voice to go on and remember, a smile
can be ‘heard’ down the line.
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Answer the telephone confidently
and professionally – answering with
“Wassup man?”, “What did you say
your name was?” or “Which company
are you from?” is not going to get you
off to a good start. Remember, first
impressions count.
Think of your posture. The way you sit
can help you relax, breathe properly
and project your voice and yourself
more effectively. Imagine the posture
you would have for a face-to-face
interview. Some people stand up and
dress as they would do for a faceto-face interview as this gives them
confidence.
Have a glass of water handy in case
you dry up.
Interviews
Types of interview
Video / webcam interviews
Automated video interviews:
Increasingly, companies are using live video
chat such as Skype to conduct interviews.
These are similar to telephone interviews,
except that you are now able to see each
other. For a video interview, follow the
advice on the previous pages and take the
opportunity as seriously as a face-to-face
interview.
In an automated video interview, companies
invite candidates to record their answers to
a series of questions by a set deadline. You’ll
need to log on to an automated web-based
system and read and record their answers, or
upload their own video. As it’s not live, you
don’t have to be online the same time as the
interviewer.
Top tips for video interviews:
Arrange a test call with a friend beforehand to make sure you’re comfortable with the
set up and everything is working correctly.
Dress smartly, and don’t forget to wear smart trousers or skirt in case you have to get
up during the interview.
Make sure there are no distractions in the background – a plain room is best.
Test the lighting and make sure it flatters your features and the interviewer can see you
clearly.
Ensure that the camera and microphone are working, and that the employer can hear
you clearly.
Minimise the video image of yourself (so that you are not tempted to watch yourself).
The employer expects eye contact as anything else can be a distraction, so look in the
camera when you are speaking.
Avoid speaking over anyone. A slight delay is possible on video calls, so it’s important to
allow people to finish speaking, otherwise you risk missing information.
CDS
Treat video
and telephone
interviews the
same as faceto-face - it’s
important to be
professional at all
times.
Make sure you
won’t be disturbed
for the duration of
the interview.
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Interviews
At the end of the interview
What questions should I ask at the end of the interview?
See the interview as
a two-way process:
it should help you
decide whether you
are well suited to the
role and if you would
want to work for the
organisation.
Your research
(see page 52)
should help you
come up with
some interesting
questions for the
interviewers.
At the end of the interview you will usually be asked if there are any questions you would
like to ask. Use this opportunity to show that you have a genuine interest in the role and
the organisation, and have thought seriously about the position. Try to have two or three
questions prepared.
Do ask about:
The job, organisation, department, training and opportunities for progression.
Information you need which may affect your decision about whether to accept the job or
not.
The next stage of the recruitment process, if appropriate.
Don’t ask about:
Things that are covered in the employer’s literature or on their website. You should
already know this thoroughly.
Anything considered trivial e.g. Christmas holiday closure dates.
Pay, pensions and benefits. However, if you really do need to ask then either contact
human resources separately or ask in a sensitive manner e.g. “sorry to ask this, but
please can you give me an indication of the salary range of this post as it was not
indicated in the literature”.
Questions where it could appear as though you are trying to catch out the employer e.g.
“What are your views on the recent press coverage of the company’s share price fall?”
How you have performed in the interview. The interviewer(s) are unlikely to tell you as
they will need to review all candidates at the end of the interviews – what will you gain
from asking at this stage?
If all your questions have already been answered during the interview, then say so politely
rather than appear uninterested. For example, you may want to say “thank you but you have
already answered my questions during the interview”. If there is something relevant that you
had hoped to say in the interview and not had the opportunity to include in your answers,
then you could consider using the time at the end of interview for your questions to tell
the interviewer(s) about your experience or skills. As you leave you may wish to thank the
interviewer(s) for inviting you to the interview.
After the interview
Your interview finishes only when you leave
the organisation. Any informal tour or meal
could be part of the selection process, so be
professional at all times. Finally, reflect on
how the interview went.
Highlight what went well and what could
have been improved on. Then think what
action you can take to improve in future.
Consider asking politely for feedback about
an unsuccessful job interview. This way, you
can learn about what you did well and how
you need to improve on.
If you are offered the job
If you have been successful you are likely to get a phone call offering you the job. At this
stage you can clarify salary and other aspects of the job if these haven’t been discussed.
The formal job offer is usually sent through to you in writing.
Take time to consider all you’ve experienced during the recruitment process, and hopefully
you’ll think that the job is right for you. Remember, you don’t have to accept if you have
doubts, and if you’ve been offered one job, there’s a good chance you’ll be successful in
future applications.
If you would like to accept the job offer, make sure to send through your formal acceptance
along with any paperwork in good time to avoid delays to the start of your contract.
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Resources
Start here:
The Careers
Information Room
in Student Central
has free copies of
booklets, magazines,
directories and other
careers publications
as well as reference
books and PCs.
Check our website: www.bradford.ac.uk/careers – lots of useful information including
more sample CVs and an employability skills section containing information on what
recruiters look for in a candidate.
Build My Career is our exciting online career management resource for University of
Bradford students. Log in at www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/build-my-career to
access:
a CV builder
an interview simulator
job hunting and application support
career management tools
getting the most out of social networking
hundreds of videos and podcasts
new ‘elevator pitch builder’.
There are even more
journals in the Joseph
Priestley Library,
UoB: www.bradford.
ac.uk/library/libraryresources/journals/
More resources by section:
Employability skills and
Finding a job
Research your career options
Complete the Careers Report on TARGETjobs
at http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report to
produce a list of jobs that might suit you.
Find out what jobs suit you based on your
skills, motivations and desires with
Career Planner on the Prospects website
at
www.prospects.ac.uk/planner
Visit www.prospects.ac.uk – follow the links
to ‘My career options’, ‘What can I do with
my degree’, ‘Job sectors’ and ‘Types of jobs’.
If you know what specific job you are looking
for, go to Prospects website to find out about
the job, the entry requirements and the skills
and experience required; go to
www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles
Labour Market
Find out about the graduate labour market
including the local labour market at
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/options/
degree-options/lmi/
Check specific information about the job
sectors that you are looking for at www.
prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/browse-sector
or use TargetJobs website https://
targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors.
Browse graduate employers by name or by
sector at https://targetjobs.co.uk/employerhubs.
Employability Skills
Build My Career is our multimedia online
career management resource for University
of Bradford students and graduates. Log in
at www.brad.ac.uk/careers/build-mycareer/ to access your e-learning hub.
Learn new career and business skills from
easy-to-follow video tutorials, interactive
e-learning courses, articles and tutorials.
Check out the employability skills section
containing information on what recruiters
look for in a candidate on our website
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/developskills/
For more information about employability
skills look at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/
skillsmenu.htm
Finding a job
You will find specific job information at
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/finding-ajob/graduate-jobs
Visit www.gov.uk for lots of useful
information on the UK Government’s official
website. Click on Working, jobs and pensions
to get details of your rights as an employee,
e.g. minimum working wage, maximum
working hours, etc.
Check out www.nases.org.uk – national
organisation of student employment services
gives helpful advice on identifying skills and
understanding your employment rights
If you are interested in finding a
placement or internship then visit
www. ratemyplacement.co.uk
International opportunities via GoinGlobal:
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/finding-ajob/intl-opps/
Digital Networking and Social Media
On Build My Career: Log in at www.brad.
ac.uk/careers/build-my-career/ to access
advice on social media for careers
purposes. Take a look at the Job Hunt and
E-Hireability sections.
CareerPlayer have produced a good video
with tips on using social media: www.
careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/generaladvice/social-media-and-job-hunting/
A great resource written by a recent
graduate on everything to do with social
media: www.ideasbynet.com/blog/personalbranding
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Resources
Applying for a job
If you have further
questions on any
aspect of your job
search please get in
touch with us...
Application forms
Build My Career is our online career
management resource for University of
Bradford students. Log in at
www.brad.ac.uk/careers/build-my-career to
understand the purpose of an application
form, what employers are looking for and
how to tailor your application.
Check https://www.prospects.ac.uk/
careers-advice/applying-for-jobs/
Visit https://targetjobs.co.uk/careersadvice/applications-and-cvs
Personal Statements
...you can find all
our contact details
on the next page.
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/applications/
application-forms/ Information about what
to include and how to structure a personal
statement for a job application. A sample
personal statement is also available.
Hints and tips on how to structure your
personal statement for postgraduate study
appliactions and suggestions on what you
might like to include in the content www.
kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/PersonalStatement.
htm
Read information on how to construct an
effective CV on our website:
www.brad.ac.uk/careers/applications/cv/
See www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/
cvs-and-cover-letters for further useful
resources, different types of CVs
The CIFAS Graduate Application Fraud
leaflet: www.brad.ac.uk/careers/media/
careerdevelopmentservices/documents/
External---Graduate-application-fraud-leaflet.
pdf
Covering Letters
Look at https://targetjobs.co.uk/careersadvice/applications-and-cvs for covering
letter essentials with examples and hints and
tips.
Visit www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/
lettersguide.pdf – download the plain English
guide to writing letters.
Visit www.prospects.ac.uk/careersadvice/cvs-and-cover-letters/coverletters – useful resources; different types
of covering letters.
Selection Tests
Find out about different type of selection
tests and complete some practice
exercises at www.assessmentday.co.uk
including situational judgement tests www.
assessmentday.co.uk/situational-judgementtest.htm
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Practice a verbal reasoning test: www.kent.
ac.uk/careers/tests/verbaltest.htm and a
numerical reasoning test www.kent.ac.uk/
careers/tests/mathstest.htm.
For English and maths refreshers go to www.
bbc.co.uk/skillswise
The interview process
Assessment Centres
Further information and advice on
assessment centres can be found on the
following websites:
http://www.brad.ac.uk/careers/
applications/assessment-centres/
http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/
assessment-centres
www.prospects.ac.uk/interview-tips/
assessment-centres
www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/assessmentcentre
www.careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/
general-advice/assessment-centers.aspx

Interviews
CVs
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More practice tests: http://practicetests.
cubiks.com/
Try www.prospects.ac.uk/interview-tips
Visit https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/
interview-techniques
Look at www.glassdoor.co.uk for candidate
feedback on real interviews
Multiple Mini Interviews:
http://multipleminiinterview.com/
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.
php?t=1963360
http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/202/
applying_for_the_mbchb/107/
interviews/2
Skype and automated video interviews:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21334710
www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/
interview-tips/1252/job-interviews-byskype/
www.sonru.com/candidate-guide/
candidate-information-sheet
Equality & Diversity
The equality section of our website and
includes further resources and information
on a range of equality issues:
www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/finding-ajob/equality
Additional advice on job seeking and equality
and diversity issues can be
found at https://targetjobs.co.uk/careersadvice/equality-and-diversity
YOUR GUIDE TO...
About Career Development Services
Get in touch
How can we help you?
We offer a welcoming, supportive environment where you can access impartial careers
information, advice and guidance from professionally qualified staff.
For current students
We can help with all your careers-related queries from your first year onwards, including help
finding a part-time job, interviews, applications for placements, assessment centres, graduate
level roles and further study. We offer:

Drop in sessions
Longer guidance appointments
Workshops
Graduate employment opportunities
Interview preparation and practice
Part-time work opportunities
CV and Covering Letter advice
…and anything else careers-related.
www.bradford.ac.uk/
careers
01274 234991
Call in to see us or give us a call to discuss your individual needs.
For graduates
As University of Bradford graduate, you have access to our services for up to five years after
your studies. If you no longer live in Bradford or are unable to come onto campus we can also
arrange careers guidance by email, phone and Skype. We also offer specific opportunities for
recent graduates, including:
Our Life After Uni Graduate Programme includes individual support and workshops to
help you get a job.
The Bradford Graduate Internship Programme offers paid placements to help you gain
relevant work experience and improve your employability skills, with the potential for
permanent employment.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Employability and Entrepreneurship is a flexible
postgraduate qualification which includes work experience and a programme designed to
help you develop your career and build your own enterprise.
Help searching and applying for vacancies, and help with interviews.
Careers-related advice regarding applying for further study and where it might take you.
Careers Fairs
careers@
bradford.ac.uk
Social media
facebook.com/
unibradcareers
We reguarly hold careers fairs on campus featuring local, national and international
employers promoting a range of opportunities including graduate jobs, internships and
placements plus casual and summer jobs.
Workshops and talks / presentations
twitter.com/
unibradcareers
We regularly run free-to-attend workshops on a wide range of topics including CVs,
interviews, social media and LinkedIn labs.
Visit our website to view our current workshop programme and to book online.
Information Room
We have a wide range of resources covering applications, interviews, further study and much
more in our Information Room, including specialist reference books, leaflets and guides.
Where we are
We are based in Student Central on floor 0, and we’re open Monday to Friday with
appointments until 6pm during term time.
For further details see the Careers website for our full Statements of Service.
Please feel free to email us, phone us on 01274 234991 or call into reception if you’d like any
more information.
Faculty of Management & Law Careers Hub
We also have a careers hub at the FoML Emm Lane Campus offering help and advice
specific to those students:
www.brad.ac.uk/management/
student-services-and-facilities/
01274 234376
[email protected]
career-development-service/
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