I have been following with some fascination the resignation of Mark McInnes the CEO of David Jones because of the consequences “his inappropriate behaviour towards a junior staff member” has had on his career. Naturally, journalists and bloggers have had lots to say and I’ve been thinking: “When it comes to applying for jobs or promotions, how should women dress not to give the ‘wrong’ impression at interview or ‘distract’ a male member of the interview panel?”

As a trainer who assists clients to prepare for job interviews, I am often asked for advice on what to wear, colours, shoes, jewellery etc. After all, first impressions really count and personal presentation is an important part of preparing for job interviews.

Trawling the blogosphere for ideas, I was overwhelmed by the range of views on how to protect candidates while maintaining the ‘integrity’ of the selection process. I found suggestions ranging from the potentially litigious – ‘slap their face or kick them where it hurts’; the cynical – ‘this is the real world so avoid situations which could lead to difficulties’, or the sanctimonious -‘don’t dress in outfits which could lead to misunderstandings’. None of these seemed quite right.

Suddenly, the heavens parted and the bleedin’ obvious stared me in the face.

Finding suitable employment should not be based on appearance but the ability to do the job well – unless, of course, it is modelling or a similar occupation.

So I have decided to take a ‘novel’ approach to providing presentation advice.

Dress down, so that you do not appear too attractive, in case there is a male on the interview panel and could be distracted from the main game. Wear a loose fitting, high neckline shirt or dress, or a full length skirt or trousers. Skip the makeup – think of the savings. Wear heavy rimmed glasses (unless they look good on you) and tie your hair back.

Don’t forget to take off the nail polish, and, finally, wear a pair of comfortable hiking boots – no need for sore feet from high heels or for carrying a bag with the comfortable spare pair of shoes.

Should you then be successful in gaining the position, you will know that looks don’t matter at all and you will be free from sexual harassment in the workplace. When you start the new job it should be safe to dress appropriately for the role.

However, if you do miss out on the job and for some reason you “suspect” that it might have to do with your dress style or looks, you can console yourself with the knowledge that you have had a lucky escape from an “unfortunate”, “inappropriate” or simply “real world experience”.

I can now relax and read the articles about our first female Prime Minister.

The most effective approach is to:

• Establish an interview preparation schedule putting regular time aside to practice,
• Speak with your colleagues who have been successful in previous years about the process, questions asked and how did they prepare for their interview,
• Collect questions from previous years – these will provide you with a guideline on the style of questions to expect, however be aware that at times the style of question may change so be ready for the unexpected. However the information you need to prepare is still the same. 
• Read the package and specialty website again, focussing on the key skills and language used,
• Re-read your application and assess your strengths and limitations,
• If this is not your first attempt at the interview, get some feedback about your previous interview. This will give you an idea of the areas you need to focus on.
• Change your perspective – put yourself in the shoes of the interview panel – if you were on the panel what skills, experience and personal attributes would you expect the applicant to demonstrate to stand out in the crowd. 
• Prepare examples from work experience and/or voluntary work to demonstrate your suitability, 
• If possible, form a study group and work through the questions and comment on each other’s answers – take notes,
• Talk to your consultant and ask for advice on preparing for the interview,
• Have a friend, colleague or family member ask the questions and video your  responses, Watching yourself on video will provide you with insight on how others see you, 
• Take note of your body language as well as responses, the body language  needs to clearly demonstrate confidence,
• When responding to a question, clearly explain the situation and all the steps you took to resolve it. Do not give shorthand answers. 
• Do not memorise your answers, just the important points you want to include in your answer,
• When necessary get assistance from a professional interview trainer/coach who has experience in preparing doctors for medical specialist interviews.

 Finally take three deep breaths, smile and walk confidently into the interview room.

For more information or assistance please contact Deborah Barit on (02) 9331 1853, (M) 0412 007 682 or email info@impressiveinterviews.com.au

 The purpose of the application letter is to highlight your qualifications, experience, skill set and personal attributes required for entry to the specialty and to substantiate claims in your application.

 When writing the letter you need to briefly outline your key skills, relevant experience and personal attributes that clearly meet the position criteria.  This can be written either in short paragraphs or in point form and should be in order of importance to the selection committee.

 Each comment should be supported with an example such as 3 years experience working as an…..unaccredited/registrar etc.

Use the headings in the application section as your guideline.

For more information or assistance please contact Deborah Barit on (02) 9331 1853, (M) 0412 007 682 or email info@impressiveinterviews.com.au

As doctors, your profession demands focus and attention to detail. So, tackling the application process for admission to a particular speciality requires exactly the same commitment and, at risk of stating the obvious, preparation is everything.

Just as with diagnosis, you start with the information in front of you – the patient and their symptoms. With a job application, you will have a quantity of information provided. Take time to go through this carefully with a particular focus on the key requirements of the speciality as outlined both in the information package and on the College website. Make sure you understand the requirements and the level of detail expected before responding to the criteria.

In general, medical specialties will require you to show that you possess some if not all of the following skills, personal attributes and qualifications. It would be useful to note down responses to each of these headings. Once you are satisfied with your notes, check these against your current resume and revise where necessary – and then you will be ready to tackle the application forms.

•Qualifications – If you have completed a Master’s or PhD, include topic and results. You should also attach a copy of the abstract to your CV. If you are part way through a post-graduate degree, include the anticipated date of completion.
•Clinical experience – You need to be able to quantify the length, depth and breadth of your experience. For example, the kind of operations you have performed either supervised or unsupervised or have observed and how many, techniques used and or observed etc.
•Teaching experience – Again, you need to detail and quantify your experience – for example whether you have taught groups and/or individuals, or developed and/or delivered teaching programs,
•Research and publications – Provide a brief outline of the research project and your contribution, publication – rank of author and the percentage that you contributed to the research and writing.
• Conference participation – Detail any participation in local, national or international conference as well as any papers/posters presented.
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team – You need to describe your role and contribution to the team.
• Training courses attended – Detail these starting from most recent going backwards and put in the number of hours/days for each course.
• Community involvement/voluntary work – This can include your extracurricular activities while a student, contributions to student/work or social organisations.
• Leadership and management experience – Provide information on both professional and voluntary work and a concise description of your role, including the number of people you managed.
• Membership of hospital committees – Outline your role on the committee with examples of outcomes achieved. Demonstrating effective administrative skills will be valuable to your application.
• Communication and interpersonal skills – You will demonstrate your written skills by the way you approach the application process in providing clear concise responses. Provide other examples of verbal and non-verbal skills when detailing your clinical, management and administrative experiences, the teams you have worked with and their outcomes, the conferences in which you have participated and presented and in any community or voluntary work you have done. You may be asked about your non-professional interests and this is an opportunity to show that you contribute to the broader community.
• Languages other than English – Give an indication of your level of proficiency.
• Reason for choosing your specialty – Prioritise your list of reasons and note them down clearly and concisely.

When completed carefully check that you have included all the relevant information and that your writing is accurate and grammatically correct. It is also very important to check for typos. It would be good to get a friend or colleague to go over your first draft to check for sense and accuracy. Give everything a thorough look before sending off the application.

And finally, if the application is to be submitted online, ensure you save a copy on your system and make a hard copy of your application form as you will need this to prepare for your interview.

Preparing for interview is a whole new subject so, for more information or assistance please contact Deborah Barit on (02) 9331 1853, (M) 0412 007 682 or email info@impressiveinterviews.com.au

Medical Specialty Interviews

June is the month when most medical specialty training program interviews are held across Australia, and as I prepare to assist doctors for these interviews I was thinking about what makes these interviews unique.

What all candidates have in common is:

·       A very similar level of skill, talent, experience and knowledge;

·       Have undertaken research projects, made presentations at conferences/meetings and have at least one publication; and

·       Have teaching experience, a lot may have postgraduate qualifications or have started another degree and all have contributed, in some form, to the community.

Keeping this in mind, it is important for each candidate to identify what are the particular skills and personal attributes that make them uniquely suitable for the training program. Remember, when the panel is assessing your overall suitability, your interview performance is worth 40%.

Here are some tips to consider when preparing for a specialist medical interview:

·       What skills, experience and personal attributes are the panel looking for? Put yourself in the panel’s position and consider this from their perspective;

·       Why do you want to specialise in this area? The answer is about interest, aptitude, skills and passion;

·        Why should they give you a place? What do you have to offer? In considering, this question, you need to focus on the following:

o   Medical and technical knowledge and experience.  The types of patient conditions you have diagnosed and treated, ranging from common conditions to complex or unusual symptoms/conditions. If you are applying for a surgical program it is essential to discuss the types of operations you have assisted with, observed or performed supervised/unsupervised.  These need to be discussed in terms of routine, level of complexity and if they were unusual/rare. Providing numbers from your logbook will substantiate your claims.  You also need to mention your level of competence with surgical techniques and equipment.

o   Research – when discussing research, the important part is how your research projects contribute to improved patient care, diagnosis, treatment or better use of limited resources. It is not just about the methodology and results.

o   Communication – is about the two way flow of information. Understanding the needs of people and adapting your language and style of information delivery for different audiences e.g. patients and their families, colleagues, students etc. The choice of communication style needs to be considered within the context of cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.

o   Leadership – discuss a situation when you took on a leadership role, this can be in a clinical setting or a social, sporting or community setting. Be clear in describing the circumstances, your contribution and the outcome,

o   Teaching experience – discuss this in terms of who you taught, groups/individuals, what topics, and did you prepare and deliver the program or just deliver an existing program. It is also important to mention any positive feedback, or if the feedback was negative how you have improved your teaching skills.

o   Making Decisions – the ability to describe the process you use to make decisions, that is what you take into account, is fundamental to success at interview. The panel needs to assess your ability to think clearly, logically and broadly before a decision is made.

o   Member of a Team – the ability to work as part of a team in a variety of roles is essential to providing patient centred care. Be clear about the roles you have taken and the contribution you made when discussing team work.

  The above tips are just a guideline of how to fully prepare for the interview.

Remember

·       Re-read the information package provided and any other information on the college website,

·       Re-read your application from the perspective of a stranger, and most importantly,

·       Have examples ready which clearly demonstrate your experience for each criteria.

·       Get copies of previous interview questions and practice with a friend, family member or colleague.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Deborah Barit.

Good luck

Welcome to the new labour market, Where the belief” I can always get another Job” has been replaced with “I should review my job prospects, just in case!”

The real danger lies in doing nothing. Now is the time to take control, review career goals and personal values, and reinvent yourself to match the changing labour market.

Reinventing yourself is something most people do each time they change their jobs, repackaging their experience to meet their new career goals. The key difference is that in this economic climate, a mere addition ‘ to experience or another qualification will not necessarily guarantee a job.

However, reinvention need not be a daunting task. The following practical steps will make the process easier and help you to think clearly about your future.

Step 1. Relax. Take a breath and make yourself comfortable with pen and paper or your laptop. Now you’re ready to start.

Step 2. Ask probing questions. Confront reality. Be honest, specific and take notes. Your answers will provide insights into your values, goals and priorities.

• What do I enjoy doing? List both work activities and personal interests, and the skills required. For example, for sales jobs, key attributes include relationship building, communication, being results-oriented.
• What are my strengths, weaknesses and greatest achievements, professional and personal?
• What motivates me? Taking on new challenges, problem solving, working with people or influencing decisions?
• What would be my ideal job? Specify activities, responsibilities and income.

Step 3. Get feedback. Identify three people who know you well, are honest in their responses and whose opinions you respect. Explain that you are adapting to changing circumstances and would value their honest feedback. Ask them:

1. What do they like and admire about you?
2. What do they see as your strengths and weaknesses?

It may not be easy to hear their answers, but don’t get defensive. Take notes. Review, sort and prioritise your notes in order of personal values, interests, skills, experience, attributes and weaknesses.

Step 4. Compare and contrast. Take your lists from steps two and three. Match your interests and values with your skills, personal attributes and experience. Identify gaps in knowledge or experience. Having a clear picture of your transferable skills is essential to identifying new opportunities.

Step 5. Spot trends and gaps. We all absorb lots of information through reading, the media and interaction with other people. Use this information to note changes in the labour market and spot opportunities. Some guiding questions are:

• Which industries are retrenching, creating jobs or have skill shortages? For example, in recession, insolvency is a growth area as well as some sections of community and public sectors. Note skill shortages still exist in engineering, IT specialties, nursing and trades.
• Which industries will benefit from government assistance packages in the short, medium and long term? In the short term, it will be industries involved in planning designing and building infrastructure. There will be a flow-on effect to other industries, though this will also depend on the global economy.
• As the economy improves, which sectors will be the first to expand?

Step 6. Mix and match: time to assess your resume. Does it clearly reflect the skills and experience essential to a changing market? Do you need additional training that will assist you to meet new demands? Do you need professional guidance (a careers counsellor or recruitment consultant) to help you identify opportunities?

You will of course have transferable skills and expertise to offer a prospective employer. However, be prepared to think outside the square and don’t discount any sectors including the voluntary or community sector.

The reality is that the industries that will emerge or survive the current economic crisis will require a new approach, different attitudes and will operate in a fundamentally changed economic landscape and, while your core skill set and attributes are transferable, the mind set approach to work and salary expectations may need to be adjusted.

And you need to be prepared.

Published in The Weekend Australian

This faith will be truly tested in the coming months as the federal Government’s $42 billion economic stimulus package is rolled out. The rate of new jobs created or jobs saved will be keenly monitored by the Government, business and the broader community. According to the ANZ series, the number of jobs advertised fell by 6.3 per cent in January, bringing the total decline during the past year to 34 per cent.

The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that unemployment has risen to 5.2 per cent.

So, what can people do, in this economic climate, to hang on to their jobs when employers seem to be shedding jobs daily? If a company is losing money or cannot trade, employers have little choice and employees have even fewer options. However, if there is the slightest opportunity in which to pitch your case to be retained, would you be ready with the right arguments? You have nothing to lose, so take a proactive approach and get your pitch ready.

In most presentation situations, you have just two minutes to grab a person’s attention and be clearly heard, so make it short and to the point.

Here is how to prepare for your two minute pitch.

First and most important, switch on to the employer’s perspective and focus on what the company needs. Research your company’s markets, products, performance and future direction as though you were taking over the chief executive’s position.

Take an A3 sheet of paper and divide it into three columns. Head the first column as the company perspective. The second is for your role. The third is for the skills and attributes you can contribute to the bottom line.

In the first column, step into the shoes of the CEO who needs to make some hard decisions. List the jobs, skills and attributes that are essential for the organisation to retain to survive the downturn and continue operating, preferably in profit.

In the second column, list the value of your role to the organisation from the CEO’s perspective. Do this in an objective and dispassionate way and make sure you quantify the value of the role to the www.theaustralian.com.au

For example, if you are in marketing or sales, what does your job contribute to this activity? How much does it bring in terms of business-income?

Some roles are more difficult to quantify than others: for example, administrative or information technology roles. However, you can make an estimate of the amount of additional time it would take someone to incorporate your responsibilities into their role. Then, that time needs to be costed at their pay rate, or alternatively what would be the consequences for the organisation if your role did not exist. Again it is important to quantify the loss in terms of profit -productivity-growth.

In the third column, list the skills and attributes you can contribute in the short. medium and long term to the company’s bottom line. Highlight how and where your skills, attributes and attitude clearly match the present and future needs of the organisation.

Now the fun bit. On a separate sheet list the key reasons why you should keep the job. Make sure the list is in order of value to the organisation. Ensure that at least some of your reasons are clearly quantified in dollar terms.

Working through this process gives you two distinct advantages. First, by thinking from the employer’s perspective, you focus on the role and its contribution to the organisation’s future, rather than on your personal needs. Remember employers make decisions based on the benefits to the organisation. Second, it will help you to organise your arguments into a logical, brief and to-the-point presentation and give you the confidence to take advantage of whatever narrow window of opportunity there is to make your pitch.

Finally it is essential to practise saying your points in a clear, concise conversational manner, keeping to the two-minute time frame. In this way, if and when the situation arises, you can deliver your pitch sounding as if you have just thought of all these reasons on the spot.

It could be your quick thinking that makes the difference.

Published in The Weekend Australian March 14-15
Weekend Professional page 2

Your mind set is just as important as your skill set for getting the job you want!

A few days ago the SBS program Insight featured a forum on whether a crisis of confidence was the biggest threat facing the Australian economy. This started me thinking about the impact that the media focus on the economic crisis and job losses has had on the confidence levels of people applying for jobs or considering a career move.

What struck me most was whether people writing their applications or preparing for interviews subconsciously undersell their skills and abilities.   Coming from this mindset, getting a job is much more competitive than in the past.

What are my chances of success?

Is there a voice running in the back of their mind which is saying ‘I don’t have this or that experience’, making it harder for them to remain positive?  The answer is most likely ‘yes’, even though we are not conscious of it. Therefore, if you are in the process of applying for a job or going for an interview, you need to consciously focus on the positives – YOUR skills and experience. 
The preparation is all about you!

Marketing yourself is about the specific skills, experience and attributes you bring to the prospective employer. Before you start writing your application or preparing for that important interview, boost your confidence with a simple self-assessment of your skills, carefully matching your competencies, experience and personal attributes to the job requirements. This will keep you focussed on the main game – confidently marketing your skills and abilities.

It is not about the competition.

Centre your focus on the job specifications and your skill set.

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please add them to the blog.

This blog is designed to share ideas information, tips and answer your questions about getting that job you want.

Your 2 minute pitch

The headlines scream job shedding, retrenchments, redundancies, efficiency dividends – whatever the words, it all means the same thing – my job may be on the line.

In the Sydney Morning Herald 16 January 2009 the front page news headline was unemployed reaching 500,000 (ABS statistics released 15 January 2009).

The ANZ Job Advertisement series found jobs advertised in the major metropolitan newspapers fell by 9.7% in December.

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard  interviewed on Fairfax Radio Friday Network 16 January 2009 said the global financial crisis may have dented the Australian job market, but she has faith that employers will not overlook the value of skilled staff.  She went on to say ‘having fought so hard to get skilled staff, employers will take the view that retaining their staff is very important to their business’. (SMH Article Employers will value Skilled Staff 16/1/09).

Reading the economic news and forecasts I asked myself – what would I say if I had a couple of minutes to justify my job?  And it occurred to me – it would be useful if people in that precarious position had a clear and concise argument ready.

Just in case

Most organisations with an eye to the future will think about who to keep and who to let go based on skill set, attributes and attitudes for both their current and future requirements.

If it comes to the crunch – Do you have your two minute pitch ready? 

Here are some tips to prepare ….

• Start by thinking from the employer perspective. Think only about what’s in it for the company.
• Take a sheet of paper and divide it into three columns.
• If you were the boss facing the current economic downturn, using the first column, list the jobs, skills and attributes your company needs to survive the downturn and continue operating – preferably still making a profit.
• In the middle column, objectively list the value of your role to the organisation.  It is not about what you do it is about ‘the role’. Focussing on ‘the role’ realistically quantify its value to the organisation.  Eg, if you are in marketing or sales, what does ‘the role’ contribute to this activity? How much does it bring in terms of business/income? If ‘the role’ did not exist, what activities would not be undertaken? What would be the loss to the company in terms of profit/production/growth? 
• In the third column, list the things you can contribute in the short, medium and long term to the company/s bottom line. Highlight how and where your skills, attributes and attitudes match both the current and future needs of the organisation.
• Once you have completed this analysis, list the key points about why they should keep you. Don’t memorise your argument, just practice making your key points in order of importance to the company.
• Remember to time yourself – make sure it is no more than two minutes.
• Keep your tone conversational and don’t hurry your words.

Remember
Keep cool, calm and collected – it is all about putting forward a rational economic argument based on employer needs.

The exercise will
Questions
• Have you tried this approach? Please share your experiences.
• Would you use this approach? 

Take a couple of minutes and tell us your views.

You can list a topic for discussion, ask a question or mention an interesting article you have read recently.

To prepare effectively for a public sector interview there are some key elements which must be clearly understood: public sector interviews are formal in structure and process.

There is always an interview panel of two, three or more members (the most common is three).

There may also be a scribe to take notes.

The panel members have been trained in interview techniques and will assess your verbal and non-verbal responses.

The questions are based almost solely on the selection criteria, and the purpose of the interview is to substantiate your responses to the selection criteria in your application. The style of questions can vary from behavioural, scenario or be straightforward, such as, how would you deal with a particular situation.

The interview may include a written exercise/presentation or a role play, depending on the position. The panel may give you the questions 15 minutes prior to the interview, but, you are usually informed if this is the case.

Three days’ notice is the norm (not a lot of time to prepare).

Here are four clear steps to prepare:

• Adjust your “mindset”.
  
• Do some research.
• Match your skills and attributes to the job.
• Practise your interview responses.

Mindset

John F. Kennedy once said, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. This thinking is the starting point for your preparation. Step into the interviewers’ shoes. Most candidates see the interview process from “what’s in it for me”. It may mean a promotion, more money, community contribution,job security or myriad other personal reasons.

These are all valid. However, as an employer I am focused on what is in it for my organisation. Now imagine you are on the interview panel. What skills, attributes and experience would the applicant need to demonstrate for you to say yes? Using your changed perspective, re-read your application and the information package.

Research

Understand the role clearly, the work of the organisation and absorb some of the culture and language. The website is a great place to start. Most public sector organisations have quite informative websites – even ASIa provides lots of information. Focus on their core business, priorities, products or services, legislative framework if applicable and their terminology. Read the current annual report or newsletter if available, and recent media releases. These will provide you with an insight into current focus and issues. Pick the most relevant sections to the role.

Also, talk to people who know the organisation and look for relevant newspaper and magazine articles (time permitting). It is always interesting to learn new information.

Match your sldlls and attributes to the job: This is where the hard work really begins. Put aside a couple of hours for this exercise. Start by identifying the essential and desirable requirements for the position – use the selection criteria and duty statement as the basis for the exercise.

The requirements can include communication skills, strategic advice and policy development. And the list goes on. Match each ofthese requirements to your skills, experience and personal attributes and give some examples to demonstrate how you meet these requirements.

This process will focus your thinking, clarify the role and provide you with the examples from experience that you will need to clearly demonstrate your suitability for the position. Remember the interview is not just about results, but the process used to achieve results. Practise your interview responses:

Create some questions you are likely to be asked at the interview, or find some on the net. There are plenty of examples. Make sure to include questions, such as, what skills and experience do you bring to this position and what interests you in this job?

Have a partner or friend ask you the questions and work through your answers. Use some ofthe organisation’s language in your responses – sound like one of them. Take note of the points you want to include in your answers and your examples from experience – your proof. Evaluate them from the interviewer’s perspective.

Do not memorise your ,and watch your body language. Your body language often says as much about vour level of confidence as the words you use. On the day of the interview make that mind-shift, re-read your application yet again, take three deep breaths, smile, relax and enjoy the experience.