• Define your goals

• Identify suitable positions

• Submit an application: The curriculum vitae

• Attend for interview: Interview technique

LAUNCHING YOUR CAREER

DEFINE YOUR GOALS

Have a clear view of your long-term career objectives and work out how to get there. Do some homework

Research

Clinical

Academic

Industry

Other scientific

Non-scientific/medical

IDENTIFY SUITABLE POSITIONS

• Be pro-active

SupervisorLiteratureConferences

• Advertisements

Departmental noticeboardJournalsInternet

The Curriculum Vitae

Objectives:

• To give factual information on you, your qualifications and skills

• To provide additional relevant information

• To provide a positive first impression of yourself

Try to make your application stand out from the crowd!

CV basic structure (1)

NameAddress for correspondence

Telephone/Fax numbersEmail address

Place of Birth/Nationality/Residency status

Education Postgraduate (degree, thesis title, supervisor, expected

completion date, other degrees)Tertiary (place, dates, subjects, grades)

Secondary (place, HSE subjects and grade)

CV basic structure (2)

•Relevant positions held Chronologically (dates, duties, specific expertise)

•Achievements and Awards (prizes, awards, scholarships)

•Grants held (awarding body, title, date, amount)

•Conferences attended (title, date and location, poster/oral presentation)

•Publications (published, in press, submitted, in preparation)

•Abstracts (conference proceedings, poster and oral presentations)

CV basic structure (3)

Relevant professional experienceComputing skillsLaboratory duties

Administration

Professional training(e.g. OHS/Radiation/Biosafety courses)

Professional refereesTitle, name and address, contact phone and email

Indicate relationship to you

CVBasic Structure

Name & Title

Address & Phone/Email Contact:

Place of Birth: Sydney, Australia

Marital Status: Married, Two children, born 2000 & 2001Education: BSc (Hons 1): School of Body Surfing

University of BondiThesis: Diving with DolphinsSecondary School: Higher School Certificate:

POSITIONS HELDJanuary 2000-present XXXXXXXXXXXDec 1997-Dec1999 OOOOOOOOOOO

ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS

1998-2002 Australian Postgraduate Award

2001 International Surfers Award for the best underwater photos at the 5th International Surfers’ Conference, Hawaii, USA, Dec, 2001

2001 Travel Award, Australian Surfers Association $2,000

GRANTS HELD

2001 Travel Award, Australian Surfers Association$2,000

2000-2003 Australian Research Council: A.Ocean and C.Earth:The socialisation of dolphins $20,000p/a

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

Date Conference Title,Authors (Poster/Oral)

PUBLICATIONS

ABSTRACTS

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

List these in groups eg:

LABORATORY DUTIES Describe each, listing in point form. If several positions have been held, separate these and make several points under each.

COMPUTER ASSISTANCE

ADMINISTRATION

OTHER EMPLOYMENT

COMPUTER EXPERIENCE

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: List courses etc

OTHER

PROFESSIONAL REFEREES: Title, Name, Address, Contact Details

GENERALLY BEST TO HAVE A CURRENT SUPERVISOR/EMPLOYER

CV - things to check Appearances say a lot about the applicant

• ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SPELLING

• A THOUGHTFUL CV IS MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN A

RUSHED ONE

• CHECK LAYOUT, DO NOT MAKE IT TOO OVERCROWDED,

REMEMBER THAT THE EMPLOYER MAY HAVE 50+ OF

THESE TO READ Limit to relevant material• LIST EXPERIENCE IN POINT FORM

• HIGHLIGHT HEADINGS

How can you give a positive first impression of yourself in the C.V.?

Facts: Additional achievements beyond the standard

Travel grantsSmall grantsPoster/student prizesExtra duties/service (committees, councils, supervision)Professional training (courses, diplomas)

• TRY TO APPLY FOR TRAVEL AWARDS AND SMALL

GRANTS OR POSTER/STUDENT PRIZES DURING

YOUR DEGREE.

THESE ENHANCE YOUR CHANCES FOR EMPLOYMENT.

• UNDER "OTHER", LIST OTHER SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS

SUCH AS VOLUNTEER WORK, SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS

THAT MAY BE UNRELATED TO PROFESSIONAL LIFE

• PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN ADDITION TO YOUR

DEGREE WILL BE REGARDED POSITIVELY

THE INTERVIEW..

The Interview

What the employer is looking for

• Specific skills• Dedication• Reliability• Communication• Initiative• Team player

The Interview

What you are looking for

• Interesting work• Good supervisor• Opportunity to extend your skills• Publications• Stimulating work environment• Salary and conditions

The interview

• Have realistic expectations when applying for a position

• If you have the appropriate qualifications, or other attributes that may produce a positive outcome, make an application

The most important aspects to an interview are:

A POSITIVE ATTITUDEandBE PREPARED

Know who your prospective employer is..What they doThe areas in which they have publishedTheir expertiseWhere your expertise would fit inWhy you would make a difference

Find out as much as possible about the interview in advance

[Research on the interview panel where possible]

• Try to anticipate some questions in advance.

• Practice the interview with supervisor/colleagues/visualise speaking in front of a panel and rehearse in your mind

• Assemble all possible relevant documentation

PREPARATION

Attending the interview

• Be well groomed

• Maintain eye contact with the interviewing panel

• Speak with confidence at reasonable volume

• Listen and answer the questions precisely and succinctly

• If you are unsure of the question, ask for clarification

• If you do not know the answer, say so.

• DO NOT BE AFRAID TO PUT YOURSELF FORWARD.

• IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPLAIN WHY YOU MAY BE SUITABLE

• GENERALLY YOU WILL BE ASKED IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THE END OF AN INTERVIEW.

• ASK IF YOU CAN SEE THE LABORATORY/WORKPLACE

• ASK IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO OTHER EMPLOYEES, SHOULD YOU BE OFFERED THE JOB

Questions at the end of an interview

Generally you will be given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview… use this!

Have a few possible questions ready.

Do not make pay and conditions the FIRST question!

Show an interest in the job itself(e.g. laboratory, more details of project, other staff, group size,

prospects for training, conference attendance)

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

YOU have to feel right about the work, the people and the conditions

• IF QUESTIONS ARE ASKED AND YOU ARE UNSURE OF WHAT IS MEANT, ASK FOR CLARIFICATION

• LISTEN CAREFULLY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTION

PRECISELY. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER SAY SO

• DO NOT TRY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH LONG

EXPLANATIONS THESE SOMETIMES END UP

SOUNDING AS IF YOU MAY NOT HAVE A CLUE

remember….

You are a postgraduate,

To get this far, you have had intense training in:

research method, presentation skills, writing etc.

Remember all your skills/training and have the confidence to bring these in where appropriate in the interview.

Use these to your advantage.

Remember: a good postgraduate is a highly-prized item!