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OxfordGuideToCareers2017
OxfordGuideToCareers2017
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APPLICATION ESSENTIALS<br />
D<br />
IDENTIFY AND EVIDENCE<br />
THE REQUIRED SKILLS...<br />
Identifying the skills and competencies required for a role can<br />
be straightforward because these are often listed in the job<br />
<br />
<br />
Even where these are not clear, or when making a speculative<br />
approach, you should try to identify which core employability<br />
<br />
<br />
By talking to people who work in the sector you can also gain<br />
a sense of which personal qualities are most important and<br />
begin to understand the contrasting styles and cultures of<br />
<br />
Effective applications are supported throughout by evidence –<br />
<br />
not work, not least because anybody can make that assertion!<br />
Cosider the following example and weigh the value of the<br />
<br />
ASSERTION OR EVIDENCE?<br />
] I will make a strong contribution at [Company’s name]<br />
because I am a good team player and natural leader.<br />
] Last Spring, my leadership enabled our student<br />
consultancy team to make robust recommendations<br />
to our client, a local charity, on how to increase<br />
volunteering amongst 6th Formers based on over<br />
100 survey responses.<br />
The examples you use in written applications and interviews<br />
can be drawn from a variety of activities as transferrable skills<br />
are developed in many situations – through your studies,<br />
<br />
examples that:<br />
] Relate to what you actually did, rather than what you might<br />
<br />
] <br />
] <br />
] <br />
<br />
] <br />
] <br />
<br />
From building your CV to answering competency based<br />
questions in interviews, you can add structure to your evidence<br />
<br />
REMEMBER<br />
Lastly, remember that recruiters are not mind readers, and<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
] Be direct and state how you meet the criteria clearly, with<br />
<br />
] Mirror the language used in their recruitment literature to:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
enable software used to scan applications to match your<br />
<br />
] Highlight relevant aspects of your background, knowledge<br />
<br />
] <br />
<br />
For example, you might explain why a role is a natural<br />
progression from your studies, or highlight how insights from<br />
<br />
<br />
Lauriane Anderson Mair<br />
Marketing Product Manager, L’Oréal<br />
Think strategically. Throughout the<br />
application process, step into the<br />
shoes of a brand’s general manager<br />
and think about what skills you<br />
would need to make business<br />
decisions requiring significant<br />
investment: Is it the right tone<br />
for my brand? Will it increase my<br />
market share? Will it be profitable?<br />
Is it realistic in the time frames? Is it good for the longterm<br />
strategy of the business?<br />
Demonstrate that you are not just focussed on the dayto-day<br />
and that you have the potential to become a<br />
future business leader.<br />
(See Lauriane's profile on p.127)<br />
www.careers.ox.ac.uk 41