“Unlocking Your Future.”

1. “Unlocking Your Future.” Top Tips to Getting a Job in HE Professor Jo Doust, University of Brighton Dr Richard Tong, UWIC, Cardiff March 2010

2. Aim • “Delegates will learn how to tailor their CVs to potential employers, how to develop their experiences and qualifications to set them apart from other applicants, and strategies for securing successful careers in the sport and exercise sciences”.

3. Learning outcomes • How to improve your chances of choosing the right job? • How to improve your chances of getting short-listed? • How to improve your interview technique? • How to improve your presentation? • How to get the job?

4. Initial Preparations Get a good degree Publish your dissertation Look at jobs.ac.uk, BASES website Get a PG qualification in teaching as well as subject specific PG degree Be prepared to move Be flexible in your ideal job specification Undertake voluntary work i.e. Dissertation subject, Sports Science Support, lab assistant What else could you do now?

5. Application Preparation Comprehensive application mapped against job description Information on the programmes offered by the HEI Background on the job, Institution and interview panel Background on the school/faculty/dept Background on the staff profile Review prospectus, website, NSS, etc. What else could you do now?

6. Communication exercise • Rows 1-3-5 stand up, turn around and ask the person behind you to tell you about themselves. • The task needs to last less than, but as close to, 2 minutes as possible so prompt them if they try and sit down before 2 minutes is up (keep count of the number of prompts you make). Sit down when you think 2 minutes is up. No cheating!

7. Application process Do what is asked – No CV means no CV Do not hand write it When writing the personal statement follow the same order as the person specification. Make short-listing exercise easy using BOTH essential and desirable criteria Give examples and be specific.  Personal statement - 2 sides of A4. Who does the short listing?

8. Application process Get someone to proof read your application. Check that your application has been received - Email and hardcopy.  A paper copy should be on good quality white paper and be accompanied by a covering letter Applying for a job should be seen as a job  How long should you spend on your application?

9. Presentation Know your audience Timing - If it says 10 minutes it must be 10 minutes (+/– a minute) – Practise PowerPoint – 1 per minute Content – Relevant to the title and should contain a start, middle and end. Individual – be unique and give examples Style – Clear, concise, fluent Memory – bullets – A4 sheet – What back up will you have? What are they looking for? What would your presentation be on?

10. Interview Exercise • Groups of 3 • 1 interviewer • 1 interviewee (the candidate) • 1 observer • 1 question

11. General questions 1 Why have you applied for this post? 2 Provide an example of how you have worked as part of a team and explain your role in that team. 3 What is your personal approach to organizing yourself and managing your time?  Different people do this in different ways…what do you do? 4 What personal achievement are you most proud in the during your time at university?

12. A mock interview

13. Specific questions 5 Elements of physiology appear at different levels of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. What differences in approach might you take to teaching (or assessment) at each level? 6 Research is an important part of a lecturer’s job. What experience do you have of undertaking research?

14. Interview process Prepare fully – formal and informal interviews Undertake a mock interview Be prepared for questions focused on yourself Be prepared for questions focused on the job description Understand HE, Acronyms (QAA, RAE, PDP) Provide examples from your experiences What would you wear?

15. Interview process Answer the questions Provide examples Be prepared to be scored on each question Ask for a question to be repeated if necessary Answers should be between 2-5 minutes Body language and eye contact Don’t waffle or lie but perhaps exaggerate! What question would you ask?

16. First and last impressions • First impressions count so be prepared to start well as this will set the scene. • Final impressions count so be prepared with a good concluding statement. • Interviewers will often write down the first and last things that you say

17. Communication • Components of speech • Content, Volume, Pitch, Speed • Body language • Appearance, Posture, Gestures, Facial expression, hand movements, fidgeting, eye contact, hand shaking.

18. Active listening • Head nods • Open gestures • Positive facial expression • Minimal verbal utterances • Silence • Repetition of key words • Restatement of short statements

19. Attending skills • Face the interviewer squarely • Adopt an open posture • You can lean toward the interviewer • Maintain good eye contact • Try and be relaxed S. O. L. E. R.

20. What are they really looking for?

21. What are they really looking for? Someone to fit the person specification Someone to add value Someone they could work with A team player Good transferable skills Good communication skills A safe pair of hands A nice person What else?