Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury

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Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
Your Guide
to Job Hunting

                 Te Rōpū Rapuara
Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
Contents

3    UC Careers Services              14 Entrepreneurship                    36 Assessment centres &
4    A career decision making model   16 Cover letters                          psychometric tests
6    Student & Graduate Recruitment      (letters of application)            39 Job seekers with a disability or
8    Job hunting strategies           18 Preparing a Curriculum Vitae (CV)      health condition
12   Researching the organisation     29 Developing your LinkedIn Profile    40 Employment agreements
13   Work – international             31 Application forms                   41 Recruiting employers
                                      32 Job interviews
Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
UC Careers’ services
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers

Appointments
Book an appointment via UC Careers
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers

Career consulting appointments
Work one-to-one with a career consultant to
clarify career or study options:
• What is the right degree or course/s for me?
• What can I do with my degree?
• How could I make more of my time at
  university?
• Should I do postgraduate study?

Express appointments & Drop-ins
• Express appointments are held Monday to
  Friday 10am – 12 noon. These are up to 20
  minutes per person for assistance with career
  and job search queries.
• Drop-ins are held two days per week, Mondays
  and Fridays 12 noon -1pm. These are for quick
  queries such as CV checks and are up to 10
  mins per person. Simply drop-in; these do not
  require an appointment.

Seminars
• Career options.                                  You are automatically registered as a UC student.   Careers Resource Area
                                                   Following graduation, you can continue to access
• LinkedIn.                                                                                            • Course information.
                                                   information on employment opportunities.
                                                                                                       • Employer information.
• CVs, cover letters and application forms.
                                                   Log on using your University IT username and        • Internet access for researching career and
• Interview preparation.                           password for information on Student and               employer information.
• Job search strategies.                           Graduate Recruitment including:                     • Postgraduate and undergraduate course
• Psychometric tests and assessment                • Employer Recruitment Presentations.                 information (NZ and International).
  centre preparation.                                                                                  • Scholarship information.
                                                   • Career Fairs and Events.
                                                                                                       • Employment destinations of past graduates,
• Starting a new job.                              • Pre-final year students for summer internships,     by degree major.
• Tailored services to colleges and departments.     vacation or practical work experience.            • www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers also
                                                   • Final year students – recruitment for graduate      contains comprehensive careers and
Careers Fairs & Events                               positions for next year.                            employment information.
• Several on campus events for UC students         • Graduates – immediate vacancies.
  including Commerce, Engineering and Science,                                                         Books and DVDs
                                                   • Careers seminars.
  ICT and Law.                                                                                         Available for loan or view at UC Careers.
                                                   • Scholarships.                                     Including:
• Connect with various prospective employers
  and further study options. Review and book                                                           •   Career planning.
                                                   Online interactive career tools
  events via www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                                                              •   Communication skills.
                                                   UC Careers online offers a variety of self-help     •   Interview skills.
Student & graduate recruitment /                   career information, tools, and resources. These     •   Assessment centres & psychometric testing.
                                                   include CV360 (an automated CV check), an
immediate vacancies                                                                                    •   Job search strategies.
                                                   interview simulator, career assessments to
                                                   support career planning, and many employer          • Networking.
Log on now:
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz                     videos offering you valuable insights.              • Small business.
                                                   See students’ resources and tools at
Local, national and international employers
                                                   www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
recruit each year. UC Careers offers a web-based
hub, linking employers, students and recent
graduates.

                                                                                                                                                        3
Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
A Career decision making model

    Media Influence        Practical Issues      Friends & Family/         Interests/     Labour (Job)
                          e.g. location, $$$,    Ideas & Opinions          Knowledge         Market
                           responsibilities                                               Information

                                                INFLUENCES

                              1. Assess Yourself             2. Opportunity Awareness
                      • Values                             • Job requirements – skills,
                      • Strengths                            knowledge and attributes
                      • Skills                             • Further study requirements
                      • Characteristics/                     – extension of knowledge
                        Personal Style                       and skills
                      • Needs/Preferences                  • Labour (Job) Market trends
                      • Interests/Passions
                      • Goals/Ambitions/
                        Objectives

                                                3. Evaluate Options
                                    • Combine Self Assessment and
                                      Opportunity Awareness to make
                                      informed career choices

                                           4. Find Work Opportunities
                                    • Look for specific positions and/or
                                    • Be open to where you can use your
                                      knowledge, skills and attributes

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Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
Resources to help with the career
decision making process

As a university graduate, you will have a range of career choices. Through    Career choice is an active process and should be a rewarding experience in
academic study you will have developed valuable knowledge and skills,         its own right. Exploring the possibilities involves analysing yourself – what
including the ability to think and communicate effectively and a proven       you want and what you have to offer – and finding out about different
ability to learn.                                                             jobs in the labour market. The Career Decision Making Model provides a
Take the time to work out what your career choices are and what you really    framework to help you discover your options.
want to do, as making an informed decision will contribute to a successful    The resource suggestions listed below can help you with this process.
and satisfying career path.

                           1. Assess Yourself                                                           3. Evaluate Options

  • Interactive tools such as self-assessments are available online.           Some possible ways to evaluate your options in relation to what you
    See resources and tools at www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                    know about yourself and your opportunities:
  • Borrow a career planning book from UC Careers resource area or use         • Identify the pros and cons of each career choice.
    available career card sorts.                                               • Complete S.W.O.T. (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)
  • Book an appointment with a qualified career consultant                       analysis exploring each option.
    via www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                                           • Notice your ‘gut feeling’ and tap into your intuition to guide your
                                                                                 decision.
                      2. Opportunity Awareness                                 • Think about what decision making strategies you have used
                                                                                 successfully in the past to make important decisions and try to
  • Explore what you can do with your degree at                                  apply those strategies now.
    www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                                               • Visualise yourself having made the decision. Imagine yourself in the
  • Develop effective job hunting strategies to learn more about                 type of jobs you might like to do. Notice how this makes you think
    opportunities (see page 8).                                                  and feel.
  • Log on at www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz to learn more about               • Talk with people you trust to help you make the decision e.g.
    student and graduate recruitment, and immediate job vacancies.               parents, siblings, lecturers, career consultants, friends etc.
  • Attend Employer Recruitment Presentations on campus, as
    advertised via Events at www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                                          4. Find Work Opportunities
  • Talk with people who work in jobs you would like to do.
    (See ‘Informational Interviews’ on page 11).                               • Browse job websites and notice any skill shortages, demands or
  • Refer to New Zealand and International based career planning and             gaps.
    job search websites including:                                             • Identify an area you could contribute to, or niche in.
  • www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                                               • Scope the news for employers /organisations.
  • www.careers.govt.nz                                                        • Talk to industry professionals for advice (see page 11).
  • www.prospects.ac.uk
  • See Graduate Destination Survey www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers/
    students/graduate-destination-survey/
  • www.nagcas.org.au/resources/graduate-careers-australia
  • https://online.goinglobal.com/

                                                              Co-curricular Record (CCR)

   Develop your work-readiness skills by participating in the Co-curricular    Career Activator is a CCR activity option that focuses on increasing
   Record (CCR). The CCR prepares you with the skills employers seek           your employability and career management skills. The programme
   from graduates and provides a record of your involvement in pre-            offers one-on-one appointments, seminars and online modules to
   approved activities outside of your academic study. By participating        suit individual needs. Participants are also encouraged to seek work
   in the CCR you’ll not only improve your chances when looking for job        experience.
   opportunities, scholarships and study abroad experiences, but you’ll        Full details on CCR , available activities, how to to register, and
   also have fun while developing your skills in teamwork, leadership,         how to apply and claim recognition for activities are found on CCR
   communication, problem solving, etc. Every 12 quality hours of active       webpages:
   participation in an activity can be claimed. The CCR is a great way to
                                                                               www.canterbury.ac.nz/ccr
   show employers how you have gone beyond study and engaged with
   UC and the wider community.

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Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
Student and graduate recruitment

Student & Graduate Recruitment
includes Employer Recruitment
Presentations, Career Fairs and
events, campus interviews and
associated activities, and brings
to campus a wide range of
employers both national and
international who recruit:
• Pre-final year students for Summer Internship
  or vacation work experience which may lead to
  graduate employment offers.
• Final year students for graduate employment
  which will commence the following year.
• Students and Graduates for immediate part
  and full time vacancies.

Who participates?
Many different types of employers participate in
student and graduate recruitment including:
• Large and small organisations
• National and international organisations
• Organisations and companies across
  all sectors.
See the Recruiting Employers list on
pages 41 – 58 for more details.
                                                        Targeted emails                                      good way to find out what an organisation
Many of these employers seek students and                                                                    is really about and to expand your network
                                                        On behalf of employers, UC Careers forwards
graduates from a wide range of disciplines. Don’t                                                            of industry contacts.
                                                        publicity to specific groups via email. We
make the mistake of thinking, for example,                                                                   Students at all levels should attend these
                                                        recommend that you get into the habit of
that you need a commerce degree to apply for a                                                               Employer Recruitment Presentations. Even if
                                                        checking your student email address daily.
commerce position. In the past, graduates from                                                               you’re in your first or second year, listening to
Arts, Science and Engineering have also been
accepted for these programmes, so stay open to          Employer Recruitment                                 what employers have to say is a very good way
                                                                                                             of helping you make decisions about your career
opportunities.                                          Presentations                                        direction. It may also provide you with ideas
Another common misconception is that                    Employers visit the campus from February             about who to approach for work experience.
employers are seeking graduates with top                onwards to tell students about the student and       Attend a wider range of Employer Recruitment
academic results. In some cases this may be             graduate employment opportunities they are           Presentations than those of immediate
true, but the majority of employers also consider       offering. Employer Recruitment Presentations         interest as this raises your awareness of
employability factors such as relevant work             are held during the day or in the early evening on   opportunities that you may not have considered.
experience, skills, strengths, attitude, personality,   campus. Some are formal and others are informal      It is particularly important to attend Employer
interests, and team fit.                                however, smart casual dress is recommended.          Recruitment Presentations for employers you are
                                                        These sessions may include information               making applications to.
What happens?                                           about the:                                           NB: not all employers give Employer Recruitment
                                                        • Organisation                                       Presentations.
Career Events                                           • Nature of the jobs
                                                        • What the employer is seeking
Keep an eye on what is coming up. See details
of Student & Graduate Recruitment and                   • Training and development                           Recruitment material
associated UC Careers activities via                      programmes offered and the                         Most employers encourage Students & Graduates
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz                          • Application procedure                              to visit their website for information about
                                                        Often employers will bring recent graduates          current recruitment opportunities. An increasing
                                                        with them, so attendance at the Employer             number of large employers have a specific
                                                        Recruitment Presentations is a particularly          website for Student & Graduate Recruitment.
                                                                                                             All employers recruiting at the University of

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Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
‘unofficial’ version of your academic transcript will
                                                                                                         display the details of your academic record.
                                                                                                         For details on the cost and how to order your
                                                                                                         ‘official’ academic transcript, go to:
                                                                                                         http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/graduation/
                                                                                                         transcripts/order.shtml For online or
                                                                                                         emailed applications, you can have the
                                                                                                         ‘official’ version scanned at the Copy Centre:
                                                                                                         https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/support/onsite-
                                                                                                         services/printing/copy-centre/
                                                                                                         Academic transcripts can take 3–4 days to process
                                                                                                         so we recommend students request one early in
                                                                                                         the year to save last minute hassles. Do not send
                                                                                                         the original of your ‘official’ academic transcript to
                                                                                                         an employer – a copy is sufficient.

                                                                                                         Justice of the Peace
                                                                                                         www.canterbury.ac.nz/support/onsite-services/jp/
                                                                                                         If you require a Justice of the Peace on campus to
                                                                                                         certify copies of original documents please go to
                                                                                                         the above link.

                                                                                                         Campus interviews
                                                                                                         Many employers involved in Student & Graduate
                                                                                                         Recruitment return to the campus to interview
                                                                                                         selected applicants, using interview rooms
Canterbury will have their vacancy(s) on UC                                                              organised by UC Careers.
                                                     date. Application details may be in either the
CareerHub. UC CareerHub job notices give you         employer’s Job listing on UC CareerHub, in their   In most instances the employer will contact you
direct access to these websites. Some employers      recruitment material or on their website.          directly to arrange a suitable interview time. Please
also provide brochures and handouts about their      We recommend applying before the last day.         be flexible when arranging interview times. If you
organisation. These are available from the current                                                      are invited to attend an interview during study
Student & Graduate Recruitment display stands        Academic transcripts                               breaks or exam time you are able to politely ask
at UC Careers.                                                                                          for a more mutually convenient time. Employers
                                                     An academic transcript is the official record of   know that UC Careers will not arrange interviews
                                                     your University of Canterbury courses and results or assessment testing during study breaks or
Applying                                             to date. Some employers may request to see         exam time.
Most employers require you to provide them with      the ‘official’ copy of your academic transcript
a CV, covering letter and a copy of your academic                                                       These are formal interviews and employers will
                                                     at the start of the recruitment process and if so
transcript. You may also be asked to complete                                                           expect candidates to dress appropriately and
                                                     they will state this in their application process.
an application form, of which copies are often                                                          present themselves as if the interview was being
                                                     Other employers may be willing to accept the
available to download from UC CareerHub. An                                                             held on the company premises. On rare occasions
                                                     ‘unofficial’ version of your academic transcript
increasing number of employers now require                                                              an interviewer might be dressed more casually
                                                     during the early stages of the recruitment
students to complete an online application via                                                          than you are. If this is the case, don’t feel that you
                                                     process, but may require to see the ‘official’
their website with copies of your CV etc attached.                                                      have made a mistake. It’s better to be over-dressed
                                                     version of the academic transcript at a later
Additionally a LinkedIn profile can also be                                                             than under-dressed for this kind of event.
                                                     stage of the recruitment process. Check with the
requested or preferred by some employers.            employer directly if in doubt.                     If you choose to withdraw from the interview
Please check the relevant Job notice carefully for                                                      process or you need to cancel an on-campus
                                                     You can access your internal transcript
each individual employer’s application procedure                                                        interview, you must contact the employer
                                                     through MyUC https://myuc.canterbury.ac.nz
and closing date. Follow every instruction. It is                                                       yourself to advise them of your decision.
                                                     You can request a copy of your ‘unofficial’
vital that your application is correct, complete,    academic transcript by emailing
and in the right place at the right time.            transcript@canterbury.ac.nz. This will be sent
Applications being sent directly to an employer      to you via email and there is no charge. The
must reach them on or before the closing

                                                                                                                                                           7
Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
Job hunting strategies

To maximise your chances of                           www.seek.co.nz – browse jobs in NZ and              Publications
                                                      internationally.
finding work, we recommend                                                                               Job vacancies, often in specialist areas can be
                                                      www.sjs.co.nz – brings employers and students      advertised in publications such as professional
using a combination of job                            together for all types of jobs around New Zealand. magazines, academic journals and newsletters
hunting strategies – both                                                                                of professional associations. Also try related
advertised and in the ‘hidden’                        New Zealand Government Jobs                        publications from other industries.
job market                                            https://jobs.govt.nz – lists job vacancies in the
                                                      government sector. You can also visit websites     Recruitment agencies
When embarking on your job search it is               of individual government departments and
                                                                                                         See the handout: Top 10 tips for approaching
important to have an understanding of what            organisations. See:
                                                                                                         Recruitment Companies availalable in the
you want, what skills you have and how you            www.govt.nz/organisations
                                                                                                         Careers Resource Area.
can contribute. Other career activities and tools     http://lgcareers.co.nz/ – lists local government
can assist in gaining this direction.                 jobs. LGCareers assists those who are starting     Work and Income
See www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                      out in their career, as well as those looking to   New Zealand (WINZ)
                                                      advance.
The advertised job market                                                                                http://job-bank.workandincome.govt.nz/find-
                                                      Industry specific Job vacancy websites a-job/search.aspx – lists job vacancies. You may
The Internet                                                                                             need to register first with Work and Income as a
                                                      • Speak to people within the jobs and industry     Job Seeker to be considered for specific roles.
Many companies and organisations, both                   you are interested in, and ask if they are
nationally and internationally, use the Internet to      familiar with any specific job vacancy          Social media
recruit staff. A few key websites are listed below       websites.
to help you in your job search:                       • Use keywords/phrases when searching online Employers can use various social media
                                                         to connect with industry specific job vacancy   platforms to connect with potential candidates
UC CareerHub                                             websites. For example if you search ‘science    and promote job vacancies. Relevant professional
                                                         vacancy website nz’, Science New Zealand’s      associations and influential individuals online
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz – employment
                                                         career website will be found.                   can also share opportunities of interest. Ensure
wed-based hub between students, recent
                                                                                                         any communications on social media are kept
graduates, employers and UC Careers. Log on
regularly for information on job vacancies,
                                                      Going global                                       professional.
Employer Recruitment Presentations, Careers           Going Global provides career information and        www.linkedin.com - a professional networking
Fairs & events, Seminars and Student & Graduate       resources to you from countries around the world.   service used to build connections and facilitate
Recruitment.                                          Gain inside career knowledge helpful in preparing   the sharing of job vacancies, news, updates and
                                                      for work overseas. https://online.goinglobal.com/   insights.
UC Careers                                                                                                www.facebook.com - in addition to specific
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers – visit the ‘Jobs        Employer websites                                   employer pages, search for generic and specific
and application tools’ section for a range            Employers can advertise opportunities through       job and industry groups and pages (these can be
of job vacancy links including New Zealand            their own websites (including their social media    regional or at a national level, e.g. IT Jobs - NZ).
and international jobs, volunteer, relief and         platforms). Often you can sign up to their job mail Other social media platforms employers have
international development, academic positions,        to be notified of any new vacancies.                been known to use include:
teaching English as a second language, and
                                                                                                          • www.instagram.com
teacher, sport and recreation vacancies.              Professional associations
                                                                                                          • www.snapchat.com
General job vacancy websites                       Professional associations uphold standards and
                                                   seek to further a particular profession or industry.   • www.twitter.com
When using job vacancy websites you typically      Becoming a member of an industry specific body
can search by keywords, job type/term of           allows you an opportunity to engage, participate       Social Media and Privacy
employment, location, category/classification and and to stay up to date with industry knowledge          Be careful about what you share online and
pay/salary. You may be able to register and create and relevant job vacancies.                            who can view your posts - check your privacy
a profile to receive job alerts, career news and                                                          settings. There are many stories of individuals
advice, and be contacted by potential employers. Newspapers                                               not getting a job because of the information they
www.careers.govt.nz – contains comprehensive          Read the Situations Vacant section of the major     have shared online - once you share a post it may
information on jobs and industries within             newspapers. For mainly South-Island vacancies,      never go away.
New Zealand, including job vacancy websites.          check out The Press particularly on a Wednesday     Google yourself to see what public information
https://nz.indeed.com – searches all job              and Saturday. The business pages may also           is readily available so you are aware of the
search sites.                                         contain job advertisements or job leads.            information an employer may see.
www.trademe.co.nz/jobs – browse job vacancies                                                             Manage your social media connections as
within New Zealand.                                                                                       information that is shared with a connection can
                                                                                                          be captured and shared with others, including
                                                                                                          potential employers.

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Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
UC Careers
 www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers

 Job Search Diary
 Date          Contact                   Discussed                                                           Follow-up                   By When?

E-Hireability                                            you are marketing is yourself and                     the dos and dont’s, where to network, making
                                                         your chances of success in this venture will          a good impression, overcoming the fear of
Learn more about how to manage your online
                                                         depend on:                                            networking, conversation starters, and tips from
footprint, how to make yourself more e-hireable,
                                                         • Identifying the appropriate market for              employers. See resources and tools at
how to use social media in your job search, and
                                                           your skills.                                        www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers
how to use LinkedIn and build a virtual network.
See resources and tools at                               • Understanding the specifications and                So, how do you get started with Networking?
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                               preferences of the employer or industry.
                                                         • Presenting positive qualities of your ‘product’     Build your job
Tapping into the hidden                                    – your qualifications, skills, abilities and
                                                           experience – and how these will benefit
                                                                                                               information database
job market                                                 the employer.                                       The first step is to start building your contact list.
The ‘hidden’ job market refers to jobs which are         • Your communication and interpersonal skills.        You want names, contact details and possible
not advertised, and is particularly important if you                                                           openings or positions.
                                                         • Being committed to convincing the employer
are seeking work within organisations who are              and ‘closing the sale’.
relatively small or are in highly competitive sectors.                                                         Create a Job Search Diary
You may be familiar with this approach, having           You are:
                                                                                                               Write down:
successfully gained holiday or part-time work            • Finding out about areas of interest, advising
                                                                                                               • Every contact you find, how you heard of
through networking and/or directly approaching             people of your range of skills and letting
                                                                                                                 that person and what you could talk to
an employer.                                               people know that you are looking for work.
                                                                                                                 them about.
                                                         • Asking to be part of their network of contacts,
The following job hunting strategies and                                                                       • Communications you have with that person,
                                                           to learn from their knowledge and exchange
activities can assist you in accessing the                                                                       by phone, email, in person etc.
                                                           information.
‘hidden’ job market.                                                                                           • Actions you will take as a result of your
                                                         • Using the ‘multiplier’ principle – that is,
                                                                                                                 communication with that person, e.g. other
                                                           the more people who know you are looking
Networking                                                 for work, the greater the chance
                                                                                                                 people to ring, ring back in a month’s time,
                                                                                                                 send in CV etc.
Networking involves identifying the people and             of opportunities arising.
                                                                                                               • Actions that person is going to take on
organisations that could be helpful to you in your       • Asking the people in your network to help
                                                                                                                 your behalf e.g. going to pass on your CV
job search and developing mutually beneficial              you in your job search, NOT asking them to
                                                                                                                 to their superior.
relationships with them. Your aim of networking            hire you.
                                                         • Eliciting feedback and assistance so that           Diary all important dates. Check your diary every
is to:
                                                           you can continually modify your skills and          day to see what has happened and what your
• Obtain more information about sectors and                                                                    next step is.
                                                           techniques of job search.
  employers that interest you.
• Decide where best to concentrate                       It is important to use your initiative and get
  your efforts.                                          talking to people! Being connected is considered
• Uncover job leads and key contacts.                    to be the number one job search strategy.
When networking it is important to see yourself as       A range of e-learning videos are available online
embarking on a marketing exercise. The ‘product’         and cover a range of networking topics, including

                                                                                                                                                                 9
Your Guide to Job Hunting - Te Rōpū Rapuara - University of Canterbury
Contact sources                                         vacant pages of community and major daily         The direct approach
                                                        newspapers and trade/industry magazines
People:                                                                                                   This means approaching employers directly for
                                                        are other sources to identify businesses to
• Everyone is a potential contact                       approach.                                         work, whether in person, by telephone or by
  – just start asking!                              •   Ask family, friends, clubs and associations       sending a cover letter with a CV (by post, email
• Large numbers of graduates are successful             you belong to for contacts.                       or via websites). This type of activity is used as a
  in obtaining work through friends, family,        •   Research companies/organisations via their        legitimate method of finding work in most areas
  colleagues, past graduates and other                  websites and publications so you are familiar     of the labour market.
  contacts, including local business people and         with what they do prior to visiting them.         Accurate targeting is crucial in this approach,
  community members.                                •   Contact the appropriate person (via email,        so the amount of time you spend researching
Information resources:                                  telephone or in writing). Contact the             the company and who to target within it, will
                                                        receptionist first and ask them to put you        be much greater than the amount of time you
Look in the Careers Resource Area for information
                                                        through to the most appropriate person if         spend making the contact. As with networking,
including:
                                                        you are unsure who the best person is for you     clarity about what you have to offer, plus a
• Print media, employer publications                    to speak to. Remember to get that person’s        businesslike approach, are essential to making
  and newsletters.                                      name and job title.                               a good first impression.
• Business Directories and the New Zealand          •   Introduce yourself, let them know who
  Yellow Pages.
• Research organisations and explore company
                                                        referred you (if applicable), what you would      When you make contact
                                                        like to discuss and ask if you could arrange a
  directories. Visit www.canterbury.ac.nz/                                                                • Be explicit about why the job, organisation or
                                                        brief meeting (15 minutes or so) at a mutually
  careers/students/do-your-research/                                                                        industry appeals. In a cold call exercise have
                                                        suitable time.
                                                                                                            your CV prepared, and be able to indicate to
Other sources:                                      •   Be prepared that the employer potentially
                                                                                                            the employer your interest in the organisation
• Build up contacts in your field of interest           might want to speak with you then and there.
                                                                                                            and the type of position you want, or type of
  through part-time, voluntary, vacation work       •   Be clear about your skills, interests and goals
                                                                                                            enterprise you are considering starting.
  and work experience.                                  and how this information will assist you in
                                                                                                          • Use positive language.
• Join relevant professional associations and           your job search.
                                                                                                          • Get the name of a contact rather than just
  societies and attend professional gatherings.     •   Prepare and rehearse your questions in
                                                                                                            their title e.g. if you are writing to, or emailing,
• Attend relevant seminars, forums, talks,              advance – you may like to email them to the
                                                                                                            the Human Resources Manager phone the
  exhibitions and conferences.                          contact person in advance.
                                                                                                            Receptionist to find out their name.
• Use social media, such as LinkedIn.               •   Dress professionally and appropriately to
                                                                                                          • Follow the principles of writing an effective
• Speak with Academic staff who may have                make a good impression.
                                                                                                            cover letter and CV.
  industry contacts and information about           At the informational interview                        • Be professional in your approach to
  previous employers of graduates.                                                                          the employer.
• Build connections through your leisure            • Remember this is career research, not a
                                                      job interview.                                      Sending a CV and cover letter expressing your
  interests and further study.
                                                    • You ask the questions.                              interest in working for a particular organisation
Informational interviews                            • Show interest in them – ask about their             is a popular job hunting technique. As a result
                                                                                                          employers may be receiving these kinds of
                                                      background, qualifications and relevant
The purpose of an ‘Informational Interview’ is to     experience.                                         approaches daily. Therefore it is important to do
research a field of work of interest to you – not   • Take notes and collect any literature or            some research on the organisation and consider
to ask for a job. It is a way to gain information     relevant web addresses.                             where you might fit into it. Indicating at the
on employment trends, skills required by            • Ask for further contacts and ask permission to      end of your letter that you will follow up with a
employers, as well as confirm whether it is an        use their name as your referral source.             phone call will generally ensure that the letter is
area of work you are interested in pursuing or      • Inquire whether it would be possible to spend       read and considered. This also provides you with
not. Informational interviewing increases your        a short period work-shadowing someone in a          another avenue for making contact. Aim to build
knowledge about your fields of interest, helps        role of interest to you.                            rapport and maintain contact moving forward to
you clarify and refine your career goals and        • Take along your CV.                                 keep informed as to whether any job vacancies
establish a network of contacts which could         • Keep to the time you negotiated.                    have emerged that you might be suited to.
lead to employment opportunities, useful
mentoring or invitations to relevant
industry events.
                                                    After the interview                                   Creating your own job
                                                    • Immediately take notes of all the information       • In your research you may find an employer
Prior to the interview                                you have gathered.                                    who could use your skills even though they
                                                    • Write a thank you note.                               haven’t realised this yet.
• Identify businesses to approach by looking        • Keep a comprehensive record of all                  • You need to research the company/
  at company directories online via:                  contacts made.                                        organisation’s markets, outputs etc and be
  www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers/students/            • Follow up all referrals.                              able to illustrate succinctly how your skills will
  do-your-research/. Business and situations        • Keep in contact with the person.                      complement what they do.
                                                    • When you get a job, let people know.
                                                      They may become part of your network.

10
Informational Interviews
                                                                                                                   As you are not interviewing for a job, it is
                                                                                                                   up to you to ask the questions. Therefore,
                                                                                                                   always go to an informational interview
                                                                                                                   well prepared with questions. Even if the
                                                                                                                   informational interview is very informal or
                                                                                                                   spontaneous, you will get much more out
                                                                                                                   of it if you put time into thinking about
                                                                                                                   what you want to know.
                                                                                                                   The following questions are a guide.
                                                                                                                   Ask questions that are going to give
                                                                                                                   you relevant information to assist you to
                                                                                                                   make an informed decision. Remember: use
                                                                                                                   open ended questions that elicit more than
                                                                                                                   a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.
                                                                                                                   • How did you get into this type of work/
                                                                                                                     industry?
                                                                                                                   • What kind of background (education,
                                                                                                                     skills, experience and attitude) do people
                                                                                                                     have who work in this field?
                                                                                                                   • What is a typical day in this job really
                                                                                                                     like?
                                                                                                                   • What do you most enjoy about the work
                                                                                                                     that you do? Least enjoy?
• Concentrate on the needs of the company and                                                                      • What are the biggest challenges facing
                                                     • Don’t ramble and do take notes. The other
  adopt a positive tone.                                                                                             your sector? How do you think they will
                                                       person is likely to be busy and will value
• Establish your communication as a serious                                                                          be tackled?
                                                       your efficiency.
  dialogue between equals.                                                                                         • Where do you see the opportunities for
                                                     • Treat the call as an interview. Be prepared to
• You may identify a gap in the market that you                                                                      people to enter this sector now? What
                                                       speak about your skills and how they match
  could niche in.                                                                                                    gaps need to be filled?
                                                       the employer’s requirements.
                                                                                                                   • What is the best way of finding out about
                                                                                                                     vacancies in this field?
Telephone skills                                     Receiving calls                                               • Do you know of anyone with a similar
                                                     • Be prepared for calls to come at any time and                 background to mine that has entered
Professional introduction                              prepare others in your household if using a                   this type of work? Could I meet them?
Quickly identify who you are and what you              land-line. Ensure a good reception for                      • Can you recommend two other people
have to offer by developing a summary of your          the caller.                                                   that I should speak to?
qualifications, skills, experience, achievements,    • Keep a copy of your CV, your list of questions              • Would you mind looking at my CV and
motivations and aspirations. Practice it until it      and pen and paper by the telephone, along                     telling me if you think it’s appropriate
sounds natural and fluent. It should be brief with     with notes about the contacts you are                         for the sector?
a maximum time of two minutes. It is important         expecting to hear from.                                     • What steps would you recommend I
to express your reason for being interested in       Remember UC Careers is here to help you. Bring                  take at this stage?
their organisation.                                  some of your planning or research material to an              • Are there related fields/jobs you
                                                     Express Appointment for further advice.                         recommend I look into if there are
While on the telephone                               Acknowledgements:
                                                                                                                     few jobs available in my preferred
• Check with the other person that you have          Hidden Job Market section adapted from Career
                                                                                                                     career field?
  called at an appropriate time - if not briefly     Development Centre, University of Otago. (n.d.). Job search
                                                     strategies. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/careers/
  outline the reason for your call and ask when      employment/strategies/index.html.
  a more appropriate time would be to call back.     Informational Interviewing section adapted from
• Allow time for the other person to think           McLachlan, M. (2009). Job hunting in New Zealand.
  and respond.                                       Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin.
• Smile – it makes you sound friendlier.
• Keep your head up, or stand up. This results
  in a more upright posture and more energy in
  your voice. Speak clearly.

                                                                                                                                                                  11
Researching the organisation

Possible questions to research
When approaching an organisation for a job,
or when invited to attend a job interview, it is
important to have background knowledge of
that organisation. Researching a prospective
employer demonstrates your level of interest
in working for them and enables you to show a
‘match’ between you and their organisation at
the job interview.
Some of the information you might want to
research may include:
• What type of business they are.
• Where they operate from, where they have
  branches, subsidiaries etc.
• What their major products and/or services are.
• Who their clients/customers are.
• What their future prospects and plans are.
• Current issues and challenges, for that
  company, specifically, and for the industry.
• What their financial situation is.
• What the name of their Personnel or Human
  Resources Manager is.
So, how can you identify organisations to
research? Refer to the resources listed below.
Information on some small businesses may             Social Media                                          Online directories
not be as easily accessible through the sources      Don’t forget to use social media channels for         Many directories are available on the Internet.
mentioned; however, it is still important to find    references to, or posts by the organisation you’re    See www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers/students/do-
out as much as possible before your interview.       researching. These sources can give extra insight     your-research/
Ask your industry contacts (colleagues, lecturers,   into the values and activities of the organisation,
other students, community members) what they         and public perception of them.                        Puaka-James Hight/Central Library,
know about the business. If possible, speak to                                                             University of Canterbury
someone who works for the organisation.              UC Careers Resource Area & Website                    The Puaka-James Hight/Central library has NZ
                                                                                                           and international company information and
Information sources                                  Organisation information
                                                                                                           financial reports online. Search by company
                                                     In the Careers Resource Area, brochures,              name via the Library’s MultiSearch option
Organisation websites                                newsletters, and other literature are sometimes       www.canterbury.ac.nz/library. You can also
                                                     supplied by employers recruiting during               explore options under the subject guides for
For a start, check out whether the organisation
                                                     Student & Graduate Recruitment. Some                  Business & Economics and New Zealand History
has a website. Use a search engine or one of
                                                     companies and organisations will have websites        or ask a librarian for help.
the online directories to locate their website.
                                                     specific to ‘graduate recruitment’ or ‘careers.’      http://canterbury.libguides.com/bsec
See www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers/students/do-
your-research/. Read the information provided        Publications and directories
on organisation websites and consider the                                                                  Christchurch City Libraries
questions listed above.                              In the Careers Resource Area you will find
                                                     publications and directories you can read,            Christchurch City Libraries also provide access
Most organisations have their annual report          such as:                                              to newspaper and magazine articles, annual
accessible on their website. Typical website         • The NZ Company Register. An Investment              reports and business directories:
headings under which annual reports can be              Yearbook of NZ companies listed on the             https://christchurchcitylibraries.com.
found include: investor information, corporate          New Zealand Stock Exchange plus top                Try searching the “eResources Discovery Search”
information, about our business and                     Australian Companies.                              by company name.
financial information. Also look for information                                                           Please note: to access information via the
about the organisation’s purpose and values, and     • NZ Government Sector Directory.
                                                                                                           Christchurch City Libraries website you may need
their current projects.                              • TAKOA Ruo Mano – Information on Marae, Iwi,         to be a member. Information on how to join is
                                                       Social Services, Business, Justice, Education,      available on their website.
                                                       Government, Training, Arts, Health Services
                                                       and Education Scholarships.

12
Work — international

Factors to consider
If you would like to work overseas, begin your
international job search in advance as it is likely
to take some time to plan and organise. How easy
it will be to achieve will depend on a number of
factors including your ability to get work permits
for other countries and the type of work you
are seeking. If you are an international student,
contact your family and friends to learn more
about what is happening in the job market in
your home country.

Finding work overseas
UC CareerHub
Search CareerHub for international job
vacancies. Select More Search Options
(under the “Find Jobs” button), to see the
Location option - International.
www.careerhub.canterbury.ac.nz

International job vacancy websites
For a range of international job vacancy              Applying for jobs internationally                       International students –
websites, visit ‘Jobs and application tools’ at
www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers                          Recruitment and selection processes and                 working in New Zealand
                                                      practices, including CV/Resume writing, can             Please refer to the New Zealand Immigration
                                                      vary in different countries. UC Careers staff           website to explore your options for working here
This weblink contains information on:                 recommend:                                              because they may differ for each individual:
• NZ & International job vacancy websites             GoinGlobal –                                            www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/
• Teaching English as a Second Language               https://online.goinglobal.com                           options/work
• Teacher and Sport & Recreation vacancies            UC has a paid subscription to this site from            You may be allowed to work part-time for up
                                                      any device connected to the UC network.                 to 20 hours a week and full-time during all
• Vacancies for Academic positions                    Alternatively, limited public access is available via   scheduled holidays and/or during the Christmas
• Volunteer, Relief and International                 www.goinglobal.com.                                     and New Year holiday period. Check the
  Development                                         Graduate Careers Australia –                            conditions on your eVisa, the visa label in your
• Researching Companies and Organisations             www.nagcas.org.au/resources/graduate-careers-           passport, or the explanation in your letter.
                                                      australia                                               After graduation with an acceptable NZ
• Job Market Information
                                                      Career Planning & Resources relating to                 qualification, you can apply for a Post Study Work
                                                      finding jobs in Australia.                              Visa. Depending on the level of your qualification,
Books                                                 In some instances, overseas employers may not           the Post Study Work Visa lasts for 1, 2 or 3 years
UC Careers stock a range of books to assist with      be familiar with New Zealand qualifications, so         which lets you to do almost any work you like.
finding work internationally. These books are         they may require more detail or explanation of          However getting a skilled job in an occupation
available for loan.                                   your studies in your CV/Resume. They may also           where there is a shortage could improve your
Titles include:                                       require your qualifications to be verified by their     chances of getting a residence visa if you wish to
                                                      country’s qualification authority.                      stay permanently in New Zealand.
• Careers in International Affairs.
                                                                                                              Remember to check the NZ Immigration website
• International Jobs: Where they Are, How to
  Get Them.
                                                      AIESEC                                                  for the most up to date information. You can also
                                                      AIESEC is present in over 124 countries and             seek advice from a licensed Immigration Adviser.
• Teaching Overseas for Aussies and Kiwis.
                                                      territories. It offers young people opportunities
• The Academic Job Search Handbook.                   to participate in international internships, gain
• Find a Job through Social Networking.               experience in leadership, and participate in a
                                                      global learning environment. An active AIESEC
Graduate Careers Australia also publish annual
                                                      group operates at UC. For further information
e-books on how to find work in Australia.
                                                      see: https://ucsa.org.nz/clubs/find-a-club/
See www.nagcas.org.au/resources/graduate-
careers-australia.

                                                                                                                                                             13
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is emerging as    Networking and mentorship                        Entrepreneurial support
an important and viable career     Mentoring relationships have been shown to
                                   enhance entrepreneurial attitude and motivation, Connecting with national
option and has the potential       and those with industry mentors have shown       organisations
to positively shape the career     more awareness of new business opportunities.    The following national organisations may offer
trajectories of many individuals.  Mentoring relationships can be established       valuable information, support or activities
Entrepreneurship is increasingly   through social and professional networking,      helpful in becoming an entrepreneur:
                                   new business contacts, entrepreneurial groups
becoming a part of the world of    and organisations, and educational settings.     • New Zealand Chamber of Commerce
work due to its ability to enhance Those who participate, engage, and contribute      www.newzealandchambers.co.nz
economic growth, innovation, and   to an entrepreneurial environment   may be more  • Business Mentors New Zealand
                                   successful in establishing beneficial mentoring    www.businessmentors.org.nz
employment opportunities.
                                                     relationships. (Terjesen & Sullivan 2011)            • Ministry of Business, Innovation &
                                                                                                            Employment
Becoming an entrepreneur                             Entrepreneurship &                                     www.mbie.govt.nz
An entrepreneur generates one or more new            employability                                        • Tertiary Education Commission
business ideas, then through the process of          Careers in the 21st century are less defined,          www.careers.govt.nz
research and development, packages the idea          and linear career progressions offering secure
into a new product or service for the market         employment are no longer the norm. This              Connecting with local organisations
place.                                               means that individuals need to manage their          Also investigate local organisations where
                                                     own careers and recognise and create their           you reside. Relevant organisations within the
Career competencies                                  own opportunities. Adopting the idea of career       Canterbury region include:
Self-awareness, career exploration,                  entrepreneurship, which refers to identifying
                                                                                                          • UC Research and Innovation –
research, planning, intention building, and          unexploited opportunities and making career
                                                                                                            commercialisation for students
implementation of career plans have been             investments to achieve a higher objective and
identified as important career competencies          career reward (Korotov, Khapova, & Arthur 2011),     • PowerHouse Ventures
and are especially important when becoming an        complements personal career development and
entrepreneur. A well-developed identity achieved     lifelong learning to maintain employability.         Entrepreneurship at UC
through self-awareness assists individuals                                                                • UC Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE)
in identifying good career opportunities             Commercial & social                                  • Undergraduate study
which complements their values, interests,
characteristics and preferences, and can lead
                                                     entrepreneurship                                     • Graduate & Postgraduate study options
to enhanced career development, stability,           Commercial entrepreneurship previously has           • Scholarships, Fellowships & Internships
and success.                                         been the driving force of most enterprises
                                                                                                          • Getting started
                                                     where the central focus is placed upon the
Developing entrepreneurial intention                 identification of an opportunity and delivery        Acknowledgements:
and behaviour                                        of a product or service. However the concept of      Korotov, K., Author, B. (2011). Career Entrepreneurship.
                                                     social entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming     Organizational Dynamics, 40(2), 127-135. Retrieved from
Enhancing a positive attitude towards                                                                     https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.canterbury.ac.nz/
                                                     a larger driving force for enterprises around the    science/article/pii/S0090261611000180
entrepreneurship, developing self-efficacy,          world. Social entrepreneurship recognises a social   Terjesen, S. & Sullivan, S. E., (2011). The role of developmental
and creating an environment supportive               issue or need and can be defined as innovative       relationships in the transition to Entrepreneurship. Career
of entrepreneurship, is strongly correlated          activities with a social objective.                  Development International, 16(5), 482-506. Retrieved
to individuals following through with                                                                     from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/
                                                                                                          doi/10.1108/13620431111168895/full/pdf?title=the-role-
entrepreneurial goals and engaging in                                                                     of-developmental-relationships-in-the-transition-to-
entrepreneurial behaviours. This can increase                                                             entrepreneurship
capacity for career success. Additionally, being                                                          Yang, K., Hsiung, H., Chiu, Y. (2015). The comfort zone of the
                                                                                                          value circumplex for entrepreneurship: a structural analysis.
part of an environment which fosters values such                                                          Career Development International, 20(6). 666-683. DOI
as self-directedness, stimulation, achievement,                                                           10.1108/CDI-07-2014-0087
and universalism, assists in developing a positive
entrepreneurial attitude (Yang, Hsiung, & Chiu,
2015).

14
15
Cover letters (letters of application)

Cover letters (also known as                         • For an effective layout, use appropriate spacing
                                                                                                            Are you ready to write your
                                                       and margins, and try to balance your letter in
Letters of Application) are                            the centre (top to bottom) of the page.              cover letter?
generally used in two job search                     • Choose whether using bullet points and/or            • Do you know who to address the letter
situations: when applying for an                       paragraphs will be the most effective way for          to? If not – find out, where possible.
advertised vacancy and when                            you to write your cover letter.                      • Have you thought about why you want
making a direct approach to an                       • Keep your sentences short and clear.                   this job and to work for this organisation?
                                                                                                              Be specific.
employer.                                            • Use size 10–12 text                                  • Are you clear on the top 5 or 6 key
                                                                                                              competencies/skills, experience,
Advertised vacancies                                 Content guidelines                                       qualifications and/or personal attributes
                                                     • If you know the name of the person to whom             the employer is looking for and how you
When applying for advertised or known                                                                         can demonstrate a match between you
                                                       you are sending the cover letter, use their
vacancies, a cover letter should be customised                                                                and the position?
                                                       title and name in the salutation (e.g. ‘Dear
specifically for each position for which you are                                                            • Have you decided what makes you
                                                       Ms Smith’). Sign your letter ‘Yours sincerely’.
applying. Never send a cover letter that reads                                                                different or unique? What makes you
                                                       If their name does not clearly identify their
like a circular which is being sent to every                                                                  stand out from other applicants? What
                                                       gender, write their full name (e.g. ‘Dear Pat
employer on a list as it is not likely to make a                                                              are your ‘points of difference’?
                                                       Smith’) and sign your letter ‘Yours sincerely’. If
favourable impression.                                                                                      • Think about how you can interest the
                                                       you do not know the name of the person you
In the cover letter, you seek to persuade the          are writing the letter to, use ‘Dear Sir / Madam’      employer in what you have to say
employer that you are a suitable candidate             and sign your letter ‘Yours faithfully’.               – what are your ‘headlines’ to hook them
for the job, by illustrating you have the key                                                                 in and interest them in reading your CV?
                                                     • Interpret the organisation’s website and
qualifications, skills, experience and personality
                                                       literature to demonstrate you understand their
traits outlined in the job description or at the
                                                       needs and how the information applies to you
recruitment presentation.
                                                       and the job.
A well written cover letter will compel the
                                                     • Remember when writing a paragraph that it
employer to read your CV so they can learn more
                                                       usually consists of 3–5 sentences and the first
about you.
                                                       sentence of each paragraph needs to introduce
                                                       what that paragraph is about.
Direct approach to
                                                     • Make sure you use examples to illustrate what
an employer                                            you have to offer.
When making an unsolicited application, it           • Avoid repetition of ideas, words and phrases
is important that each cover letter is written         in sentences. Use a thesaurus or the list of
specifically for the organisation you are              action verbs on page 28. Try to use a variety
approaching. Researching the organisation (via         of sentence structures – don’t start every
websites, through your network of contacts or          sentence with ‘I’.
other resources) is critical to producing a well-
focused sales pitch. Through your research,          • Remove bullet points and separate each
identify what qualifications, skills, experience       sentence of your paragraphs onto it’s own line
and personality traits are or might be of interest     (temporarily). Does each sentence make sense
to the employer you are approaching, and make          individually?
sure you have highlighted these in both your         • Check each sentence to ensure your grammar,
cover letter and your CV. See the section on the       spelling and punctuation are correct.
Direct Approach on page 10 in this guide.            • Re-paragraph your letter, ensuring that your
                                                       points are being presented in a logical and
Formatting guidelines                                  structured manner within each paragraph and
• Avoid coloured or lined paper.                       within the overall cover letter.
• Use black ink and avoid block capitals.            • Have someone proof read your cover letter for
                                                       spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Type your cover letter – unless the employer
  has specifically requested it to be handwritten.
• Use no more than one A4 page (even if you’re
  sending the letter as an email – the employer
  will probably print it out).

16
Your cover letter is the first thing an
                                                                                       employer will read
                                                                                       – what impression does it
                                                                                       give about you?
Address
Your contact telephone number
2 spaces

5 January 2020
2 spaces

Employer’s name
Their position
Company/organisation name
Postal address including post code
City (and country if sending internationally)
2 spaces

Dear Mr/Ms./Mrs Employer’s Last Name

Vacancy position and reference number

An Introduction                                                                        Use bullet points instead of paragraphs
State clearly why you are writing to them (including the department or location        if you think it will get your points
                                                                                       across more clearly and effectively.
preferred, if appropriate) and mention that your curriculum vitae is enclosed.
Say where and when you saw the position advertised.
                                                                                       Note that you do not need to use
                                                                                       paragraph headings. Those shown here
What I can offer you                                                                   are just used to illustrate the purpose of
                                                                                       each section for the writer.
Research the organisation and the position to identify what they are looking
for. Write two or three paragraphs drawing attention to those aspects of your
qualifications, experience, skills, personal attributes, achievements, interests
and aspirations which show how you match the requirements of the job and the
organisation. Illustrate by using examples. Refer to your CV where appropriate.

Why does this organisation appeal?
Describe your reasons for applying for this job - what is your motivation to
apply to work for this particular organisation, in this particular role. Be specific
– why them? It may be their reputation, the projects they are involved in, their
organisational culture or other factors.
                                                                                       If you are making an unsolicited
                                                                                       approach, mention that you will
The Conclusion                                                                         contact them by a certain date to
                                                                                       follow up this letter. If you would
Restate your interest in the position and that you look forward to hearing back
                                                                                       like to speak to them about future
from them. Thank them for taking the time to consider your approach                    opportunities in their industry sector
or application.                                                                        overall, clearly request this. This may
                                                                                       create a networking opportunity for you
2 spaces
                                                                                       to find out more about other jobs.

Yours sincerely
5 spaces (approximately)

Signature
Your name

                                                                                                                                 17
Preparing a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

                                                                                                             Step two: Content of your CV
  What is a CV?
  A curriculum vitae is a summary of your              In general the most preferred style of CV in          Personal details
  personal, educational and work history. It           New Zealand is a combination of reverse               • Write your name and term-time home address
  is designed to interest a potential employer         chronological (date ordered) and functional             (if different to your regular address). If you are
  in interviewing you. The style of CV can vary        (skills) information, which allows you to               using two addresses give dates you will be at
  depending on the stage in your life/career,          arrange the most relevant facts in easy-to-             each one.
  the type of employer or job vacancy, whether         follow and targeted sections. Some employers
                                                                                                             • Include your landline and/or mobile telephone
  you are canvassing or applying for a known           have particular requirements, so follow their
                                                                                                               number(s), and your email address.
  vacancy and if applying for a job in different       instructions carefully. Below are three easy
  countries.                                           steps to writing an effective CV.                     • Include url address to an online professional
                                                                                                               profile, e.g. LinkedIn account (optional).
                                                                                                             • It may be helpful to indicate whether you are
Step one: Target your CV                                 your CV may not be read by a human being,             a New Zealand citizen, Permanent Resident or
                                                         unless your CV is successfully shortlisted by an      hold a valid New Zealand Work Permit.
Research the employer                                    ATS. Therefore it is important that you create a    • Information relating to age, gender, marital
Research the employer(s) and the industry(s)             scannable CV.                                         status, religion and health need not be listed
you are interested in. What do they consider           • Quick tips to create a scannable CV:                  for a New Zealand CV.
important? What are their values? What type
                                                         – Include facts for the artificial intelligence     Career objective (optional)
of people work for them? What might
                                                             to extract. The more skills and facts you
interest them?                                                                                               • If you wish to include a career objective,
                                                             provide, the more opportunities you’ll have
• Use any sources of information you can find,               for your skills to match available positions.     place it near the beginning of your CV.
  including websites, press articles, personal           – Make sure you use the same words as               • Make sure it is short and specific to the
  contacts, industry forums etc. See page 12.                the employer when describing your skills          particular organisation you are approaching.
• Find out if the employer has any specific                  and experience as the software may look         • Alternatively you may title this section ‘Profile’
  requirements or preferences in regard to CV                for those key words. For example, if the          and give a brief summary of your most
  format and the order of information included.              advertisement says ‘excellent people skills’,     relevant strengths, skills and experience for the
                                                             your CV should have a heading ‘People             position.
Understand the position description                          skills’ not ‘Interpersonal Skills’.
• If you are applying for a specific position, go        - Avoid tables, columns and text boxes as           Education & qualifications
  through the job description and highlight                  these can become scrambled.                     • Include your degree indicating major
  any qualifications, skills, experience and             - Use traditional bullet points because ATS           subject(s), thesis or project title. You can write
  personal attributes the employer mentions.                 can not recognise symbols/picture images.         this in brief and state ‘See Academic Transcript
  You need to give examples of where you have            - Select one type of standard font to use.            attached’ and/or include your grades in the
  demonstrated these in your CV.                             You can bold and use a larger font size for       body of your CV.
• If you’re not applying for a specific position,            headings, however maintain the same font
                                                                                                             • Write the name of the institution you
  think about what skills, experience and                    sizes throughout your CV.
                                                                                                               are studying at and the year dates.
  personal attributes the employer is likely to        • If you’re posting a paper copy of your CV, it
                                                                                                               Include information on when you are
  want, based on all the information you have            needs to be good quality, with no unusual
                                                                                                               expecting to complete your studies and be
  been able to find out about them.                      formatting or graphics, with dark ink on white
                                                                                                               available to commence employment.
                                                         paper to make it easy for the computer to
                                                         distinguish the words.                              • Include secondary school details if relevant.
Match yourself to the job                                                                                      In some cases employers require these. It is
Brainstorm how your key skills, experience,            • E-learning videos and information on
                                                                                                               not necessary to include copies of certificates
qualifications and personal attributes fit what          scannable CVs and applicant tracking systems
                                                                                                               and awards from school.
the employer is looking for. Prioritise the list and     are available via resources and tools.
                                                         See www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers.                   • List any other qualifications or training
use examples from your work, study, voluntary
                                                                                                               courses that you have completed and/or are
work, community involvement, interests or                Also see Resumes in Cyberspace by Pat Criscito
                                                                                                               working towards.
personal life (e.g. family commitments) to               and E-Resumes by Susan Britton Whitcomb
illustrate your suitability.                             and Pat Kendall. These are available from UC        • If you are including qualifications gained
                                                         Careers resource area.                                overseas you should include a brief
Identify ‘scannable’ words                                                                                     explanation of them, including whether they
                                                       Acknowledgment: CAREERXROADS 2000 The Directory to      have been recognised by the New Zealand
• Employers may use an Applicant Tracking              Job, Resume and Career Management Sites on the Web.
                                                                                                               Qualifications Authority and/or New Zealand
  System (ATS) that automatically scans your CV
                                                                                                               Immigration for employment purposes in
  to create a plain text file, even when you send
                                                                                                               New Zealand.
  a paper copy. This automated process means
                                                                                                             • Show the information in reverse chronological
                                                                                                               order i.e. most recent information first.

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