Putting your plans into action

Being able to demonstrate your suitability for a job during the various stages of the application process requires preparation and practice.

Job search

Browsing online job sites is an easy way to find jobs to apply for, but you’ll need to do more in order to get the job you really want. Developing a job search strategy will ensure you have an effective and efficient approach to accessing both advertised and unadvertised employment opportunities.

You can find about incorporating more job search tips into your strategy by:

Ensure you know what type and level of job is appropriate for your level of skills and experience – pitch yourself at the right level for your best chance of success. Refer to our discipline specific Career Guides for sample jobs, if you’re unsure.

Resumes

Tailoring your resume for each job application is non-negotiable. Research shows you may only have six seconds to impress an employer. A high quality, tailored application pitched at the right level will be far more successful than submitting a generic resume and hoping for the best. You can

You can find out more about creating a resume that demonstrates your relevant skills, experience and knowledge by:

Cover letters

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.

You can find out more about the importance of tailoring your letter, how to address selection criteria in a cover letter, as well as how to avoid common letter writing mistakes by:

Selection criteria

If selection criteria are part of a job application, they will be the primary focus in the initial selection process, so it is important to address them carefully. Addressing selection criteria is often the most difficult part of writing a job application, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can find out more about putting together strong evidence that demonstrates how you meet the selection criteria being sought by:

Interviews

How you prepare for an interview, including practicing your interview technique, will be the strongest single determining factor in your success. You need to present your skills and attributes to an employer in a way that sets you apart from other candidates, and convinces them that you’re the best person for the job, whether the interview is in-person or online.

To be able to successfully communicate your suitability for a role in an interview takes practice, and you can find out more about how to prepare by:

You can also practice your interview technique using the Practice Video Interviews available through UniHub. Complete one of the recommended videos or create one of your own.

Psychometric testing

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

You can familiarise yourself with the format and types of questions being used by:

Assessment centres

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

You can learn more about what assessment centres involve, and how best to demonstrate your true potential, by:

Curtin CareerPLUS

Taking part in CareerPLUS gives you the opportunity to develop the tools and experiences you’ll need to navigate the transition from study to the graduate workforce.

Find out more