Job Seeking Report

Able to learn quickly        Desire to work hard                Poised

Moral standards        Growth potential

(Barker & Gaut, 2002)

4. I selected a job from The Courier-Mail. It is a job advertisement of associate-software engineer, which the employer is the IBM (Australia).

1. The advertisement did not mention about the salary, the working time. However, by the past, the salary of a graduate is not high but the company will provide well welfare. Also, the working time will be very long. Sometimes, it requires working overnight.

2. It belongs to the software industry.  Although people always says the IT is now saturated, the software industry still needs many people, specially fresh faces with fresh ideas, to develop new products.

 

3. It will work as a member of a team.

The main purpose of the role is to develop core security products and/or integration modules between the IBM Tivoli security products and strategic 3rd party products.

4. It is an important role in the company. Apart from developing a great security product, which was mentioned in the advertisement, the successor(s) may be their future leaders.

5. For skills, they want the applicants familiar with either C, C++ or Java programming, and Object Oriented Design Techniques.

Besides, they may want the applicants to have full skill on using computer. Also they may want skills on commercial, management or human resources, since they are hiring their future leader.

6. For personal qualities, they may need people to be intelligent, creative, outgoing, mature, able to accept criticism, able to learn quickly, willing to work long hours, willing to work in a team, and have growth potential.

7. For knowledge, qualification and training, they need the applicants qualified in Computer Science, IT or Software Engineering, either alone or in conjunction with an Engineering degree, and in a credit average Knowledge of Unix and Windows environment and familiarity with either C, C++ or Java programming, and Object Oriented Design Techniques must be needed and at least to academic level. Also, commercial experience will be highly regarded.

5. In the interview stage, interviewees should

(Barker & Gaut, 2002)         (Comstock, 1985)        (Sutcliffe, 1998)

6. Employers usually seek for the followings during the interview:

1. Good personal presentation

• Interviewees were punctual, appropriately dressed and demonstrated good communication skills.

2. Well prepared for the interview

• Interviewees had brought along a copy of their application, referee reports, examples of relevant or significant work and prepared questions to ask the interviewer(s).

3. Knowledge of the organisation

• Interviewees had researched the company well – its services and products, customers and markets, and how they could contribute to the organisation.

4. Interest in the industry

• Interviewees knew about the current state of the industry and were able to explain why they were interested in working in the industry.

5. Career goals

• Interviewees understood the company’s needs and structure and were able to satisfactorily project themselves into the organisation.

6. Interviewees’ career plans

7. Interviewees’ ability to communicate

8. Indications that interviewees have set objectives for themselves

9. Interviewees’ degree of maturity and their desire to take on responsibility

10. Interviewees’ ability to solve problems

11. Interviewees’ ability to think logically

12. Whether interviewees will be appositive, productive team members

(Australia. Dept. of Employment, Education and Training, 1981)

7. A checklist and time-line for the job application process for feedback purpose:

        

Part B

1. Job Advertisement

Date: 16 - 11- 2002

Newspaper: the Courier Mail

2. A Persuasive Cover letter

3. A resume

LO Hing Yi (Annie)

Personal Details

Home Phone: 3349 - 1988

Mobile: 0422 - 662 - 318

Email address: [email protected]

Address: 9 Cambridge Place, Wishart, Brisbane, QLD 4122

Personal Website:

Career Objective

Participate in making of the World’s huge software packages

Education Background

Work Experience / Achievement in school

Skills

Interest

Listening and recording music, Making website, Chat at forums in Internet, Making BMS

Referees

Mr Hung, Colin        0422 - 123 - 567

(Attachment of reference on request)

Part C

1. 25 questions the employer may ask in the interview

1. Would you introduce yourself?
2. What are your strengths? (Lucas, 2000)
3. What are your weaknesses? (Lucas, 2000)
4. Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
5. What do you see yourself doing in 5, 10, 15 years? (Barker & Gaut, 2002)
6. Why do you select / apply this job?
7. Do you understand the role of the associate-software engineer?
8. What are you career goals? (Comstock, 1985)
9. What salary would you expect? (Australia. Dept. of Employment, Education and Training, 1981)
10. Why do you select a job in the IBM?
11. What do you know about the IBM?
12. Why did you choose IT / computing stream in the university?
13. What have you learnt in the university (about software / programming)?
14. Do you have any achievement in the schools (in IT)?
15. Do you like work in an office?
16. Can you work in a team?
17. Are you a leader? (Barker & Gaut, 2002)
18. If a partner and you have argument because of different ideas, how will you do?
19. Can you work overnight?
20. How do you handle pressure?
21. How important is your family and personal life as compare to your work? (Comstock, 1985)
22. What do you like to do in your spare time? (Comstock, 1985)
23. Why the security software is important nowadays?
24. What qualities do you think I should be looking for in this position? (Barker & Gaut, 2002)
25. Why should I hire you over other candidates? (Barker & Gaut, 2002)

2. 5 questions I would like to ask the employer

1. What type of training program do you have, and how long will it last? (Barker & Gaut, 2002.)
2. What is the normal working hour? (Moon, 1999)
3. What opportunities do you see for a person with my background? (Barker & Gaut, 2002.)
4. When and how the successful applications will be notified?
5. What weaknesses do you see that I should try to improve? (Barker & Gaut, 2002.)

Part D

 

The feedback section

Comment

If you care more the chance, the better you will do. I did a lot of preparation before I enter the mock interview. However, I felt extremely nervous when I stood in front of the room. My heart beat very fast and my hands was wet. I was very afraid. But, it is strange! After I started the interview, I did better than my best! I told myself to be the normal me and I did it. I didn’t feel any more nervous.

Of course, my performance is not perfect. I still need improvements. Firstly, my vocal is not enough. It is better if I speak a little bit louder. Secondly, I have to improve the gestures to show my confidence. Also, I should avoid ‘yes’ ‘no’ answer, saying more words. I will try to improve those.

So, don’t worry. Be happy. Do the normal you when you are inside the room. Try to relax yourself then try to do your best. Also, do the preparation as much as you can, and just leave the remaining questions to the interviewer. Care the chance then do the best!

Conclusion

Job seeking is a very important stage in the life. It also represents a new page of the life. Remember to do a well preparation, define the job and research all the information about the job and the company, before you apply it. Try to familiarize with the interview questions. In the interview room, open your mouth and be normal. Good luck!

References

Australia. Dept. of Employment, Education and Training. (1991). JOB SEARCH FOR ADULTS. The Australian Government Publishing Service. Canberra.

Australia. Dept. of Employment, Education and Training. (1981). Work wise: A self-help guide to job search. The Australian Government Publishing Service. Canberra.

Barker L L, Gaut D R. (2002). COMMUNICATION (Eighth edition). A Person Education Company. USA.

Comstock T W. (1985). COMMUNICATNG IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. Delmar Publishers Inc. USA

Lucas C. (2000). Effective Job Seeking Skills With Applications in Word 2000 and the Internet. The Tilde Group. Sydney.

Moon P. (1999). HINT ON TRYING TO GET THAT GREAT JOB OR BACK TO THE BASICS. Phillip Moon. Queensland.

Sutcliffe K. (1998). Open the door to your future: getting interviews and job in Australia. Brolga Press Pty Ltd. Queanbeyan, NSW