Applying for work

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. – **Steve Jobs, entrepreneur**

Resume and Cover letter

Resume writing

A competitive resume is an essential part of any job application, and you will need to tailor yours to address the specific needs of individual opportunities. Tailoring your resume for each job application is non-negotiable. Submitting a high quality, tailored application will be far more successful than lodging a generic resume and hoping for the best.

Research shows that an employer will spend between 6 and 60 seconds reviewing your resume. Learning how to create a resume that demonstrates your relevant skills, experience and knowledge, is crucial to capturing a prospective employer’s attention. Our resources are designed to assist you in creating a professional standard resume.

Cover letter writing

Cover letters are an essential part of a job application, providing you with the opportunity to demonstrate to a prospective employer your suitability for a position. Just like your resume, adapting your cover letter for each application is essential. A well written cover letter provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate to a prospective employer your suitability and motivation for a position.

A cover letter formally introduces yourself and your resume, states the reasons for your application, and highlights how your skills, experience and knowledge make you a suitable applicant for the role. It is an ideal opportunity to make a good first impression on a prospective employer by demonstrating that you have researched the organisation and matched your experience carefully to the position.

To find out more about creating a resume and cover that demonstrates your relevant skills, experience and knowledge & how to tailor your cover letter:

Read Common Grammatical Errors in Job Applications
Take the Getting a Job Challenge online
Search ‘resume’ or cover letter in the Library resources

Selection criteria

If selection criteria are part of a job application, it is important to address them carefully. Employers use selection criteria to determine if you have the skills, abilities, knowledge and qualifications needed for the role.

To find out more about addressing selection criteria effectively:

Read Addressing Selection Criteria
Take the Getting a Job Challenge online

Interviews

In a competitive job market, preparation for interview is essential. Your ability to communicate your suitability for a role is key to a successful interview. Preparing for an interview, including practicing your interview technique, is essential in maximising your chances of success. Being able to present your skills and attributes to an employer and successfully communicate your suitability for a role takes practice.

Preparation for an interview, including practicing your interview technique, will be the strongest single determining factor in your success. You will need to be able to present your skills and attributes to a recruiter in a way that sets you apart from other candidates, and convinces them that you are the best person for the job.

Succeeding in job interviews takes research, practice and persistence. Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Interview is a platform to make a good first impression. It takes just seven seconds for someone to evaluate you when they first meet you.

To find out more about preparing for an interview:

Read Interview Workbook
Take a Getting a Job Challenge online
Search ‘interview’ from Library resources

Mock Interview

A mock interview is a great tool for increasing your chances of successful job placements. A mock interview can provide you with an opportunity to practice for an interview and receive constructive feedback.

This session helps you learn how to answer difficult questions, develop interview strategies, improve your communication skills and reduce your stress before an actual job interview.

We try to simulate an actual job interview by inviting real industrial recruiters to be the interviewer. The interviewer can then assess the impression you give and feedback you receive will be invaluable to your interview performance and your job search.

Psychometric and self-assessment testing

Graduate recruiters commonly use psychometric testing to produce objective data for the comparison of applicants. Psychometrics are used to measure knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits and educational history through questionnaires, tests and personality assessments.

To find out more about psychometric testing:

Access practice Psychometrick Tests online

Check out other Self-assessment tests:

16 Personalities test
Employability student starter kit
O’NET Interest profiler
Test Partnership

Assessment centres

Assessment centres are generally used by large companies as part of their selection process for graduate programs. The purpose of assessment centres is to evaluate your behaviour through a series of exercises and activities in a simulated business environment.

To find out more about demonstrating your potential at an assessment centre:

Take the Leadership & Innovation Challenge online

For instant feedback on your resume

Using YOURSTUDENTID@student.curtin.edu.au email, create your free VMock account and upload your resume in PDF format. VMock Resume willl scan your document and provide instant, targeted suggestions to help improve your resume.

For an in-person resume and cover letter review

Book a one-to-one session at a Resume & Cover Letter review or email your documents to career_alumni@curtin.edu.my. Your will receive a review via your student email within five business days.