July-Aug 24 | Interview and Application Tips

Polish your resume writing skills and nail your next interview!

INTERVIEW AND

APPLICATION TIPS

JULY-AUGUST 2024

Calm those pre-

interview nerves,

nail your resume

writing skills and

send off your job

application with

confidence!

DISCOVER HOW TO NAIL

YOUR RESUME

WHAT COUNTS AS

EXPERIENCE?

PICKUP INSIDER ADVICE

FROM HIRING MANAGERS!

GET INTERVIEW READY

WITH OUR TOP TIPS

what’s inside:

Let’s Explore: Application

and Interview Tips!

NAIL YOUR

RESUME

WHAT COUNTS AS

EXPERIENCE

HOW TO ANSWER

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

SO, YOU’VE GOT A

GROUP INTERVIEW

DO I REALLY NEED A

COVER LETTER?

ello there! Welcome back to the seventh

issue of our digital mag!

Are you wanting to nail an application for

your dream job? Or wondering how to

prepare for an upcoming interview? If you

answered yes to those questions, then this

issue is for you!

DISCOVER YOUR SOFT

SKILLS

MASTERING YOUR

ELEVATOR PITCH

GET BACK TO BASICS WITH

CAREER READY 101

HOW TO NAIL YOUR

FIRST RETAIL JOB

Explore Careers | Interview & Application Tips

We’re not just a platform; we're architects of happy career futures!

By cultivating partnerships with industry leaders, we open doors to exclusive opportunities,

offering you glimpses into early career paths and expert guidance.

We're here to help co-create success stories & empower you to forge your future with every

step.

Welcome to Explore Careers!

R E S U M E

Nail Your

Cover The Basics

Tailor It!

Short and Simple

Proofread

One A4 page is plenty! As a

student,

you

won’t

expected to produce pages

qualifications

employment history. Keep

your sentences succinct

and scannable for hiring

managers.

Tailor your resume to fit the

job you’re applying for. It’s

not uncommon to tweak

your resume from job to

job. Try reading over the job

description

and

identify

what makes you suited to

this role!

Every resume should cover

these basic elements:

Your full name, city or

postcode, email address

and phone number.

Your skills and

experience that’s most

relevant to the job.

Don’t let a small spelling

mistake affect your chances

of getting hired! Be sure to

read over your resume to

catch typos. Get an outside

perspective

asking

friend, parent or teacher to

proofread your resume.

Everyone has different ideas for what makes a ‘great’ resume, but there

are some obvious ideas for what makes a ‘bad’ resume – knowing the

difference can be confusing! Here are our top tips to resume-writing

success:

Explore Careers | Interview & Application Tips

Stuck

for

experience

your

resume? Don’t get bogged down

worrying about what you don’t

have, stay focused on the positives!

School projects, team sports and personal

hobbies are all opportunities to detail your

passions

and

skills.

This

includes

teamwork,

project

management,

communication and working to deadlines!

Part-time work and odd jobs all count, too – they demonstrate commitment

and

organisation,

including

that

babysitting

gig

helping

your

grandparents with the garden.

If you’re unsure, ask parents and teachers what they think your best skills

are – then think about the experiences you have that back up those skills.

Stuck for Experience?

Explore Careers | Interview & Application Tips

Use your hobbies

3. Ask friends & family for Inspiration

2. Part-time work still counts!

WHAT COUNTS AS

EXPERIENCE?

CAREER FAIRS

You’ve likey attended a career fair

expo

your

school.

Mentioning

how

you’re

committed

exploring

your

future marks you as someone

who’s driven and proactive.

INTERNSHIPS

VOLUNTEERING

Securing an

internship gives you a

great understanding

of what the world of

work is like. Be sure to

showcase the

relevant skills you

picked up during your

internship in your

resume!

Volunteering with a

non-profit

organisation is also

an excellent way to

gain experience. You

may also volunteer at

an event such as a

college fest, music

festival, or book fair.

WORK

EXPERIENCE

EXTRA-CURRICULARS

Whether you’ve taken on a role in

student council or helped plan

the end-of-year bash, these are

great experiences to show you’re

someone

who

likes

get

involved.

HOBBIES

Hobbies and team

sports/activities are

a great way to let

your soft skills shine.

From organisation

to communication

and commitment –

there’s lots to show

off here!

Work experience

shows employers

that you’ve tried

and tested their

industry, and that

you have the

initiative to put

yourself out there!

1. ATTITUDE

Discover Your Soft Skills!

3. COLLABORATION

2. COMMUNICATION

4. LEARNING ABILITY

Being enthusiastic and motivated

for the opportunity and taking

direction well.

Being able to work well in a team.

Being positive, professional, and

representing their organisation

well.

Keen and eager to learn and grow

the necessary skills required

During your time at school you’ve been developing

vital soft skills without even realising it! Many

employers, regardless of industry, will say they

prioritise the right mindset and personal attitude

above and beyond work experience.

We hear it all the time – employers know they can

teach you the skills needed to do the job well, but

they can’t teach you to be motivated and passionate

to learn and be a part of their team!

When it comes to your personal qualities, these are

the things employers look for:

If you’re yet to enter the world of work, you might feel like you’re resume is

lacking work-related skills. But did you know that your ‘soft skills’ are just as

valuable as work experience on your resume?

Explore Careers | Interview & Application Tips

“Soft skills are vital in any

hospitality role, so be sure to

highlight them in your application.

Communication, team-work and

problem solving are all soft skills

that we look for in applicants.”

- Head of Talent, Merivale

MASTERING YOUR

ELEVATOR PITCH

Step

Define project objectives, scope,

and stakeholders.

Kickstart with a clear vision and

team alignment.

Map out tasks, resources, and

timelines.

Develop strategies to mitigate

risks and ensure project success.

Define your Personal Brand

What’s an elevator pitch, you ask?

Well, picture you’re in an elevator with the boss of your

dream job. You’ve got their undivided attention for the

time it takes to get to the top floor. How do you sell

yourself quickly and make the kind of impression that

lands you the job?

THIS is where your elevator pitch comes in.

It’s a summary to describe you, your experience, and your

goals in an engaging and motivational way.

The team at Nutrien Ag shares how you can start!

Craft your Elevator Pitch

Explore Careers | Interview & Application Tips

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