What are employers looking for?

Laura WoodwardAdvice and Guidance Specialist

My experience:• 12 years generalist HR experience• High volume recruitment• Recruitment into scientific industry• Running assessment centres and graduate

recruitment programmes

• CV’s• Covering Letters• Application Forms • Interviews• Assessment Centres

Common pitfalls

• Graduates assume having a good degree will be enough• Selection criteria is not addressed in their application• Don’t make clear why they want the job and/or why they

want to work for the organisation• Write too much• Write too little• Stand out for the right reasons!

CV’s and Covering Letters

CV’s• Keep to 2 sides• Tailor to the job• No need to include

published scientific papers for non-academic role

• Avoid scientific acronyms

Covering letters• Address the selection

criteria• Make clear why they want

the job• Make clear why they want

to work for the organisation

Application Forms

• Follow instructions• As with CV/covering letters – ensure selection criteria is

addressed• Competency examples – HOW you do things

Assessment Centres

• Remember they are being assessed the whole day – this includes over lunch.

• Make sure you participate – particularly in group exercises – if you don’t do anything – there is nothing to mark you on.

• Interviews• Competency based interviewing • Provide a variety of examples • Ask questions – have some prepared

Preparation

• An appreciation that preparation is key• Research the organisation and ensure you have a good

understanding of the position