This page provides general information and links to information on the application process, including: CVs, covering letters, application forms, assessment centres and interviews.

If you would like a Careers Adviser to advise you on making effective applications or to give you feedback on an application before you submit it, call in to a drop-in session. See www.keele.ac.uk/careers for times. Careers Advisers can also advise you on preparing effectively for interviews and assessment centres. In addition workshops are held on all these topics during semester time. See www.keele.ac.uk/careers/events for listings.

There is a copy of Ultimate Job Search and Develop Your Assertiveness in the Careers and Employability Centre.

Careers and Employability have a DVD entitled Selection Success in One which includes short films on the application process. These include:

• ·         Your Job’s on-line
• ·         The Assessment Centre video
• ·         Why ask me that?

The University of Derby’s Careers Service has information on how to make the most of personal contacts: www.derby.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-jobs/maximising-useful-contacts

There is a copy of The Reluctant Networker available to read in the Careers and Employability Centre.

If you are considering making speculative applications, there is useful information at TARGETJobs: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs/making-speculative-applications

There is information on writing application forms on the Careers and Employability website at: www.keele.ac.uk/careers/makingapplications/applicationforms This information is also available as a booklet – please call in to collect one from WM0.35.

There is information on applications on Prospects’ website at: www.prospects.ac.uk/job_application_advice.htm

AGCAS provide the following application advice to download:

Application advice: AGCAS Job_application_advice.pdf

There is also information on TARGETJobs site at: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs/the-graduate%E2%80%99s-guide-to-job-application-forms

There is a copy of How to Complete an Application Form and How to Analyse and Promote Your Skills For Work available to read in the Careers and Employability Centre.

Use Select Simulator to practise completing graduate application forms: www.selectsimulator.com

There is information on writing CVs and Covering Letters on the Careers and Employability website at: www.keele.ac.uk/careers/makingapplications/cvs and www.keele.ac.uk/careers/makingapplications/coveringletters

This information is also available as a booklet – please call in to collect one from WM0.35.

AGCAS provide the following CV information and templates which you can download here:

Skills based CV: AGCAS cv_skills_based.pdf

Chronological CV: AGCAS cv_chronological.pdf

Academic CV: AGCAS cv_academic.pdf

Also a factsheet on CVs and Covering letters: AGCAS CVs_and_covering_letters.pdf

AGCAS also provide some examples of covering letters to download:

Standard covering letter: AGCAS covering_letter_standard.pdf

Speculative covering letter: AGCAS covering_letter_speculative.pdf

Covering letter for applicants with a disability: AGCAS covering_letter_disability.pdf

Covering letter for international students: AGCAS covering_letter_international_student.pdf

There is information on writing CVs (including examples) on Prospects’ website at: www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs.htm and on TARGETJobs: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs/writing-cvs-for-different-types-of-graduate-job 

There is a copy of How To Write A CV and You’re Hired – How To Write A Brilliant CV in the Careers and Employability Centre.

See the Applications and Interviews General file for sample CVs.

Creating a CV: A Guide for Postgraduate Researchers, a guide by Salford University Careers Service, is available to download at: www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/apply_interview#cv

Vitae’s Researchers’ Portal also offers advice on creating effective CVs: www.vitae.ac.uk/1372/Creating%20Effective%20CVs.html

The Times’ Readymade Job Search Letters is available to read in the Careers and Employability Centre.

There is information on writing covering letters on Prospects’ website at: www.prospects.ac.uk/covering_letters.htm

There is information on attending interviews on the Careers and Employability website at: www.keele.ac.uk/careers/makingapplications/interviews This information is also available as a booklet – please call in to collect one from WM0.35.

There is information on going for interviews on Prospects’ website at: www.prospects.ac.uk/interview_tips.htm

There is a copy of How To Succeed At Interviews And Other Selection Methods, Successful Interview Skills, Ultimate Interview and Great Answers To Tough Interview Questions available to read in the Careers and Employability Centre.

TARGETJobs have interview technique advice at: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-techniques

They also have a page on panel interviews: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-techniques/panel-interviews-how-to-face-more-than-one-interviewer

The University of Otago, New Zealand publishes an Interview Skills booklet, downloadable from: www.otago.ac.nz/careers/otago021339.pdf

The University of London’s Careers Group have information specifically on telephone interviews: www.careers.lon.ac.uk/files/pdf/CEP_TelephoneInterviews.pdf as do Kent University: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivphone.htm and Seltek Consultants: www.seltekconsultants.co.uk/preparingtelephoneinterview.htm

There is information on assessment centres in booklet form in the Careers and Employability Centre – please call in to collect one from WM0.35.

There is a copy of How To Succeed At An Assessment Centre available to read in the Careers and Employability Centre.

There is information on assessment centres on Prospects’ website at: www.prospects.ac.uk/assessment_centres.htm

TARGETJobs have The Graduate’s Guide To Assessment Centres and other useful resources at: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/assessment-centres

The University of London’s Careers Group have information on Group Exercises at: www.careers.lon.ac.uk/files/pdf/CEP_GroupExercises.pdf

Kent University Careers Service’s information sheet: How To Do Well At In-Tray and E-Tray Exercises is very detailed: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/intray.htm

The Civil Service provide an example on their Fast Stream recruitment website: 

http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/Global/Docs/Fast-Stream-Assessment-Centre.pdf

Leeds University Careers Service also have an example exercise: http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/22/assessment_centres

                                                                                                                                    Updated on 19/06/13