Careers Skills Workshop

Helena Asher – Chiang : UTS Careers Consultant

Alice Anderson: Sparky Hire Recruitment Consultant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwVSNDtlCzg SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES +

Session Topics

Inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments

Disclosure

Resumes and Cover Letters

Feedback from the recruiter

How many people in Australia have accessibility needs?

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2015:

4.3 million people (18.3% population)

• physical conditions (78.5%)

• mental and behavioural disorders (21.5%)

5

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS AND INHERENT REQUIREMENTS

WHAT IS A REASONABLE

ADJUSTMENT?

Being able to meet the inherent

requirements of the role

Where adjustments can be

made to the role that does not

place “unjustifiable hardship” on

the employer

WHAT IS AN INHERENT

REQUIREMENT

Unable to meet inherent

requirements (even with

reasonable adjustments)

Core activities, tasks or skills

that are essential to a workplace

in general, and to a specific

position

NOT DISCRIMINATION

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INHERENT REQUIREMENT EXAMPLES

A nurse who has a hearing impairment experiences difficulty in measuring patient’s heartbeats, this is an inherent requirement of the job. The nurse is

provided with an electronic stethoscope that permits her to set volume levels, thereby allowing her to accurately measure a patient’s heartbeat as required.

The accommodation of providing an electronic stethoscope enables her to perform the inherent requirement of the job.

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INHERENT REQUIREMENT EXAMPLES

An "inherent requirement" for a Telecommunications Manager is the ability to communicate by telephone. But it is not an "inherent requirement' to

hold the phone in the hand. Accordingly an reasonable adjustment of providing a headset would enable them to perform the duties

required.

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CASE STUDY: DOES PATRICK MEET THE INHERENT REQUIREMENTS?

Patrick has a lower back injury which has made it hard for him to find and keep a job. Patrick applied for a job with an engineering firm, CBA Engineering. The only problem was the new job was labour intensive.

It required Patrick to stand for long periods at a workbench assembling and packing fabricated metal parts

ACTIVITY:

1. In groups of 3-4 discuss whether Patrick can do the job

2. If yes, are there any reasonable adjustments Patrick could request?

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CASE STUDY: DOES PATRICK MEET THE INHERENT REQUIREMENTS?

‘When I hired Patrick I knew there would have to be some modification to the workplace to allow him to perform the work’, says Chris from CBA. ‘I could see that he had the skills we were after, but the workstation needed some adjustment because of his injury.’

Chris applied to the Employment Assistance Fund for a new sit/stand stool and some work bench adjustments.

YES! PATRICK GOT THE JOB! The Employment Assistance Fund is an

Australian Government scheme that pays for the costs involved in modifying the workplace and purchasing special or

adaptive equipment.

Modifications to your workspace may enable you to do your job. At your interview, you may

like to draw your employer’s attention to the Employment Assistance Fund. Let them

know that this support is available.

JobAccess An Australian Government Initiative. Available from: < http://www.jobaccess.gov.au). [20 November 2015]

DISCLOSURE

Deciding if and when to disclose is an individual decision that only you can make.

- Always focus on your abilities and strengths in job

applications.

- Attitude is important - “CAN DO”

- Research the job role – inherent requirements

The decision to disclose will depend on the

job you are applying for, and on the

needs/concerns of your disability.

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DISCLOSURE

Who

What

When How

Why

• Ask yourself: will my disability potentially impact my work

performance, completing a specific task or meeting the selection

criteria?

• Do your research: what assistance/strategies may you need in order

to perform the role? Be prepared to discuss these – always offer

suggestions/solution. (e.g. assistive technology)

• Avoid disclosing in cover letters and resumes, UNLESS – it gives you

some advantage over other applicants. e.g. It may be beneficial to

disclose a disability for some roles that require you to have experience

in living with a disability. Some employers also have targets to employ

groups of people such as those with disabilities.

12

Activity: Create your disclosure script

It may be helpful/important for you to know that I have (Provide the preferred term for your medical

condition/disability).

I have (list your abilities and skills) and I do believe I can perform the essential requirements of this job.

However there are occasions where my condition may impact on my ability to meet the requirements of a

specific task, an example of which would be (indicate limitations)

In this instance I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about any specific accommodations that

may be helpful. An example of this would be (describe the specific accommodation/s you need).

My willingness to work with my employer on this would ensure that we could successfully manage this issue as

it arrives.

Thank you for your consideration

Break time ( 5 minutes)

You may take this time to write

down what adjustments you might

ask for in your future job

14

RESUME WRITING

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK AN AVERAGE RECRUITER LOOKS AT A RESUME?

15 MINUTES 2 MINUTES 6 SECONDS 5 MINUTES

15

RESUME WRITING

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK AN AVERAGE RECRUITER LOOKS AT A RESUME?

6 SECONDS

16

RESUME WRITING

Get your resume noticed:

Prioritise your first page • List outstanding academic results • Industry related work experience • Specific industry or technical skills

Think like a recruiter!

• What differentiates you as a candidate that would spark their interest?

• Use key words

Use easy to read fonts – Helvetica, Arial or Calibri

17

PERSONAL & CONTACT DETAILS

18

PERSONAL AND CONTACT DETAILS

19

Career Objective

Your Situation

Desired Role

Relevant Skills

Are you a student, graduate or an

experienced professional? What

are/were you studying?

What kind of role are you looking

for? Do you have a special area of

interest in your chosen field?

What relevant skills can you offer to

the company? Think about the

company’s goals and how you can

contribute to achieving them.

Career Objective

Final year Business student seeking a part-time Customer Service role within the financial services industry where I can utilise my initiative and problem solving skills to ensure that all customer needs are met.

Your Situation

Desired Role

Relevant Skills

Are you a student, graduate or an

experienced professional? What

are/were you studying?

What kind of role are you looking

for? Do you have a special area

of interest in your chosen field?

What relevant skills can you offer

to the company? Think about the

company’s goals and how you

can contribute to achieving them.

Career Objective

Seeking an internship opportunity in logistics which will allow me to use my strong analytical skills and my aptitude for transport modelling to assist in the development of efficient logistics processes.

Your Situation

Desired Role

Relevant Skills

Are you a student, graduate or an

experienced professional? What

are/were you studying?

What kind of role are you looking

for? Do you have a special area of

interest in your chosen field?

What relevant skills can you offer to

the company? Think about the

company’s goals and how you can

contribute to achieving them.

Career Objective

Seeking a Graduate Research Assistant role where I can use my highly developed biological research and teamwork skills. My long-term interest is in plant genetics research.

Your Situation

Desired Role

Relevant Skills

Are you a student, graduate or an

experienced professional? What

are/were you studying?

What kind of role are you looking

for? Do you have a special area of

interest in your chosen field?

What relevant skills can you offer to

the company? Think about the

company’s goals and how you can

contribute to achieving them.

24

ACTIVITY: Draft your own careers objective

Situation:

Relevant Skills:

Desired Role:

Your Situation

Desired Role

Relevant Skills

Are you a student, graduate or an

experienced professional? What

are/were you studying?

What kind of role are you looking

for? Do you have a special area of

interest in your chosen field?

What relevant skills can you offer to

the company? Think about the

company’s goals and how you can

contribute to achieving them.

25

26

A statement that highlights what impact you have made within a role or activity and distinguishes you from other candidates

ACHIEVEMENT STATEMENTS

Questions to help you brainstorm your achievements:

• What did I do that was above & beyond my normal job duties?

• How did I stand out?

• What new processes did I implement to improve things?

• What problems did I solve?

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ACHIEVEMENT STATEMENTS

Include the benefit

Proposed marketing strategy was implemented.

VS

Proposed marketing strategy was implemented which led to a 10% increase in revenue compared to the previous year.

This is the ‘so what?’

SO WHAT?

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ACHIEVEMENT STATEMENTS

Include the benefit

Proposed marketing strategy was implemented.

VS

Proposed marketing strategy was implemented which led to a 10% increase in revenue compared to the previous year.

This is the ‘so what?’

SO WHAT?

29

RELEVANT SKILLS

Tailor skills to the industry,

company & role

Provide evidence to support your

skills

30

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

& REFEREES

People who are willing to be contacted to provide info about your skills & attributes

31

COVER LETTERS

• 1 page

• Tailor your cover letter

• Take time while preparing & writing it

• Research the company

• Check spelling and grammar before submitting

Cover Letter Structure

ADDRESSES, DATE, GREETING & TITLE (RE: )

PERSONALISE!

Ms Alice I. Wunderland

16 Softley Close

Randwick NSW 2031

Ms Molly Meba

Recruitment Manager

Meba Media

100 Sussex Street,

Sydney NSW 2000

8 March 2016

Dear Ms Meba,

Re: Marketing Assistant (Position ref: G452/A)

Write “Hiring Manager” or

“Recruitment Manager” if

Recruiter details are unknown

Write specific job title and

reference number (if applicable)

Cover Letter Structure

ADDRESSES, DATE, GREETING & TITLE (RE: )

PERSONALISE!

Cover Letter Structure

OPENING PARAGRAPH – WHY ARE YOU WRITING? WHY ARE

YOU A GOOD FIT?

PRESENT YOURSELF IN

THE BEST POSSIBLE

LIGHT, WITHOUT

EXAGGERATING

Cover Letter Structure

SECOND PARAGRAPH – WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR

THIS COMPANY?

EXPRESS YOUR SPECIFIC

MOTIVATION FOR

APPLYING TO THIS

ORGANISATION

Introductory Paragraph and

Motivation Statement

As a recent Bachelor of Business graduate from the University of Technology Sydney, I am very

interested in the above position. Achieving a distinction average over the course of my studies; along with

work experience at two high profile media organisations, demonstrates my motivation and passion for

marketing within the entertainment industry. In particular, my previous experience in public relations,

event coordination and social media management will allow me to make a valuable contribution to Meba

Media.

As a market leader in providing creative strategies for social media and communications branding, Meba

Media has contributed to the success of organisations such as XYD Company and ZXY. An opportunity to

learn from the expert talent at Meba Media would be a welcome challenge, enabling me to apply my prior

experience while further developing my own capacity to work as a marketeer and learn from experts in

the field.

Introduce

yourself and

summarise

why you are

the right

person for the

role

Highlight

reasons for

wanting to

work for that

particular

organisation

Cover Letter Structure

MIDDLE PARAGRAPH(S) – HOW DID YOU DEVELOP RELEVANT SKILLS?

EXAMPLES?

IDENTIFY 3 CORE

COMPETENCIES

(FROM JOB AD)

HIGHLIGHT

SPECIFIC

RELEVANT

EXAMPLES

APPLY IT TO

THE

POSITION

Body of Letter

Relevant

experience

and knowledge

Highlight

achievements

During my degree, I completed several marketing internships including positions at

Channel 7 and ACP magazines. These internships proved to be invaluable as I was able

to demonstrate my skills as a confident communicator and my ability to build rapport with

both internal and external clients. I also demonstrated strong written communication

skills, reflected through 12 nationally published media releases.

In addition to my internships, I have been involved with various extracurricular pursuits

including 6 years with the NSW Volunteer Fire Brigade and 2 years with my local Smith

Family shop. Here, I strengthened my teamwork skills, the ability to adapt to changing

circumstances and how to work effectively under pressure.

The internet is of particular interest to me due its ever-changing nature and I also enjoy

working with social media as it is a growing market segment area. Notably, at Channel 7 I

was responsible for increasing the Channel’s Facebook and Twitter traffic in 2011. As a

result of my efforts, Twitter traffic increased by 40% and the number of Facebook ‘likes’ by

30% over six months.

Body of Letter

Relevant

experience

and knowledge

Highlight

achievements

During my degree, I completed several marketing internships including positions at

Channel 7 and ACP magazines. These internships proved to be invaluable as I was able

to demonstrate my skills as a confident communicator and my ability to build rapport with

both internal and external clients. I also demonstrated strong written communication

skills, reflected through 12 nationally published media releases.

In addition to my internships, I have been involved with various extracurricular pursuits

including 6 years with the NSW Volunteer Fire Brigade and 2 years with my local Smith

Family shop. Here, I strengthened my teamwork skills, the ability to adapt to changing

circumstances and how to work effectively under pressure.

The internet is of particular interest to me due its ever-changing nature and I also enjoy

working with social media as it is a growing market segment area. Notably, at Channel 7 I

was responsible for increasing the Channel’s Facebook and Twitter traffic in 2011. As a

result of my efforts, Twitter traffic increased by 40% and the number of Facebook ‘likes’ by

30% over six months.

Cover Letter Structure

CLOSING PARAGRAPH – REITERATE YOUR SKILLS & THANKS

HOW DO YOU THINK

THIS MAKES YOU A

GOOD FIT?

Closing Paragraph

With my affinity for social media, strong communication and initiative, I believe I have the

relevant skills and experience necessary to be successful in this role. I look forward to

discussing the position in more depth soon.

Yours sincerely,

Alice Wunderland

Reiterate your skills and

fit for the role

ADDRESSES, DATE, GREETING & TITLE (RE: )

OPENING PARAGRAPH – WHY ARE YOU WRITING? WHY ARE YOU A GOOD FIT?

SECOND PARAGRAPH – WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THIS COMPANY?

MIDDLE PARAGRAPH(S) – HOW DID YOU DEVELOP RELEVANT SKILLS? EXAMPLES?

CLOSING PARAGRAPH – REITERATE YOUR SKILLS & THANKS

Final Tips

• Chance to highlight your most relevant skills and experience and express your motivation for the position

• Don’t reiterate your entire resume!

• Frame your cover letter to reflect how you can apply your skills and experience to help the employer instead of how obtaining this role will help you

•

• Personalise and tailor your letter toward each position

• Only 1 page and proof-read!!

RESUME

AND

COVER

LETTER

WRITING

Your careers

service can

give you

feedback on

your resume or

cover letter

What’s Next?

Lunch!

Thanks for coming!