career pathways seminars building blocks for career advancement
TRANSCRIPT
ObjectivesObjectives
Cover Letter & CV
Interviews
◦ Pre-Employment Screening: National Assessment Authority
◦ Prepare you & increase your comfort level
◦ What Not to Do!
The Application ProcessThe Application Process
There are a number of entry points depending on how you are entering the process
Start the Oversees Trained Doctors (OTD) registration and appropriate process prior to applying for jobs
Get your application in on time
Address the required application process
Address the selection criteria
World of RWAV OTD ApplicationsWorld of RWAV OTD Applications
RWAV (Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria) administer Area of Need OTDApplications and receive approximately:
400 applications per year
with 30 applications progressing to placement
What do they look for?What do they look for?
This scheme aims to attract OTDs with post graduate GP qualifications or recognised GP experience (of at least five years) to work in areas of greatest need in rural Victoria.
You must be eligible for registration in the state of Victoria
Cover Letters & CV’sCover Letters & CV’s
How important are cover letters and CV’s?
VERY IMPORTANT!
Providing an investment in your future opportunities within Australia
Having a fundamental effect on placements and/or positions offered
Cover LettersCover Letters
More than just a ‘cover’ letter
The first impression you make
Your chance to ensure your application doesn’t go to the bottom of that pile
Cover Letter – What should it do?Cover Letter – What should it do?
Address the job you are applying for in the subject line
Address the name of the person
Be accurately and carefully constructed
Pay attention to detail (especially spelling and grammar)
Care & Attention Required
Cover Letter - Your OpportunityCover Letter - Your Opportunity
To stand out from crowd
To attract the readers attention & keep them reading!
To let the reader know you have made an effort to understand their organisation
To get you to the next stage in the process – your CV!
Don’t mix up your agencies (PMCV/AMC/RWAV), hospitals & health services
Don’t ramble, be structured and NOT TOO LONG Don’t restate information that appears in your CV Don’t use complicated fonts Don’t send it with spelling errors Don’t send it with mistakes in health service name or what
that health service does Don’t make generalised statements that could apply to all
health services/hospitals. Tailor to your audience.
Cover Letter – What Not to Do!Cover Letter – What Not to Do!
Cover Letter - ContentCover Letter - Content
Outline the type of position you are seeking?
What is your motivation for seeking a career in Australia?
What particular skills & attributes you would bring?
What distinguishes you from other potential applicants?
Outline your long-term professional goals & plans
Lack of Care & Attention…what are Lack of Care & Attention…what are the Consequences?the Consequences?
You go to bottom of a very big pile!
What does it say about you? Will you lack care & attention at work Will you lack care & attention to patients Does the Australian Health system want doctors who
don’t pay care & attention?
How will you be perceived?
Your CV - An Important InvestmentYour CV - An Important Investment
Opportunity to sell yourself Your skills & qualities Your academic & clinical achievements Special achievements Community/voluntary activities
Project a well rounded, mature person, able to handle a career in medicine within Australia
Set yourself apart from the crowd Create a good impression prior to interview
CV - StructureCV - Structure
2 – 3 pages in total Photo (not always essential but again makes an
impression) Name & contact details Chronological order
Employment Education (certified copies provided on request) Specific requirements for Australia (certified copy of ELTs) Conferences Presentations
Referees
CV – Lay OutCV – Lay Out
Consistent font throughout
Consistent use of: Headings Bullets Page Margins
CV – Do include:CV – Do include:
Research activities Other life pursuits Volunteer & Community works Significant achievements
BUT DON’T OVER DO IT!
Academic/professional snapshot
Personal snapshot◦Show how well rounded you are◦An provides an indication of your ability to make
the transition
This may be what distinguishes you from the rest
CV – A snapshot of Who You AreCV – A snapshot of Who You Are
CV – Gaps in TrainingCV – Gaps in Training
If there are gaps in the chronological order, provide reasons
Travel
Health
Other Studies
Family commitments
CV – Check itCV – Check it
Check spelling get someone to proof read it, critique it
Read it aloud
Pay care & attention to the detail
Don’t miss the little words ‘to’ and ‘of’
Review how it appears online as well as on paper
RefereesReferees
Check individual agency requirements
Contact your nominated referees prior to including their details
Ensure chosen referees can answer all the questions on any potential assessment form
If an online notification system, check your referees received this.
RefereesReferees Clinical◦Ensure correct status/ title and contact details of
referee
◦Ensure referee can answer ALL the questions on any referee assessment form
Non – Clinical◦A character reference
◦Evidence that you are ready to make the transition
CV – What Not to Do!CV – What Not to Do!
Don’t send with errors in spelling & grammar
Don’t go crazy with fancy fonts or colours
Don’t use a wacky email address sexypixie666@....
Don’t send copies of all your qualifications / documents with your CV (except ELTs). You will be asked for these at a later stage.
When listing your experiences
Include type of hospital/ position and details of rotation eg: General Medical Rotation
Don’t list the obvious:
Exception – extra special placements & electives
CV –What Not to Do!CV –What Not to Do!
Interviews – The FactsInterviews – The Facts
Yes, they can be awkward
All employees go through them
Your will almost certainly by interviewed by a person with a human resource background, if not they have a lot of experience (Remember RWAV = 150/year).
Preparation will make all the difference
Interviews – Self AwarenessInterviews – Self Awareness
Body language
Remember to smile
Eye contact
Sit forward in your chair
Interviews - PreparationInterviews - Preparation What career opportunities are you exploring & why?
Clearly articulate your career goals
Articulate why you want to work in a particular role/health service
Be specific Visit websites to research opportunities available through the
particular agency and demonstrate understanding of the required processes
Speak to other IMGs in roles similar to those you are seeking (Australian Overseas Trained Doctors Association)
Behavioural InterviewsBehavioural Interviews
What are they?
Asking applicants to give specific examples of when they have demonstrated particular behaviour or skills
Behavioural InterviewsBehavioural Interviews
Why?
Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour
Behaviour tends to be linked with competencies
Behavioural InterviewBehavioural Interview
Example Questions◦ Tell me about a time when you....◦ Describe a circumstance when you were faced with a problem
related to....◦ Think about an instance in which you....
Probing questions◦ How exactly did you do that?◦ Tell me exactly what steps you took to resolve that◦ What was the basis for that decision
Behavioural InterviewsBehavioural Interviews
A strong answer outlines:
◦The context in which events took place
◦The action taken in the situation
◦The result or outcome of these actions
◦Review of the situation and what you may do differently if faced with a similar experience again
How to PrepareHow to Prepare
Remind yourself of a range of experiences you can talk about
Make sure you don’t refer to the same experience in order to answer all questions
Draw on your work & life experiences Part time, voluntary, professional University, academic & extra-curricular involvement Other life experiences where you have developed the sought after skills
and experiences required
Review your CV to answer questions specific to those experiences listed
Interviews - PunctualityInterviews - Punctuality
Know where to go
Allow for traffic
Allow for parking – health services and other agencies are notoriously hard to park around
Ring ◦Keep the contact number with you at all times◦ If you are going to be late, give ETA, even if by minutes◦Provide an explanation
Interviews - PresentationInterviews - Presentation
Make an effort in your appearance Always were a suit Well groomed Ironed shirt
If you turn up scruffy & dirty what impression are you giving
Interview TipsInterview Tips
Why are you seeking to pursue a career in medicine in Australia?
Don’t generalise Be specific
Understand this is the most appropriate pathway for you Access to a particular field of medicine eg Specialist Pathway
Show you have really thought about why you want to be here!
What to Do?What to Do?
Stay calm
Be professional
Show that you are ready to take the next step towards a Career in medicine within Australia
Take certified copies of key documents with you.
Interviews – What Not to DoInterviews – What Not to Do Don’t be late
Don’t generalise
Don’t try to bluff your way through answers – if you don’t know just say so
Don’t name drop
Don’t try too hard to IMPRESS
Don’t leave your mobile telephone on and if you do… Don’t answer it!
SummarySummary
Care & Attention
Investment
Research
You have come this far and your future deserves your best efforts