When applying for a job, you may be asked to fill in an application form. Most employers use online application formats for job applications (for example, email, PDF, and online application databases).

Your application is made up of your resume, cover letter and any other required documents to be sent as attachments to an introductory email.

Forms

You may be asked to download an application form, such as a Microsoft Word document or PDF. You then fill in the required information and upload it, along with your resume and any other required documents.

Online applications

Some companies have an online application process, which uses a database. This captures your answers to questions about your relevant skills and experience. You may also be asked to upload your resume and other supporting documents.

Before you start

• Read and follow all of the instructions.
• Where possible, look at all of the questions before you begin.
• Ensure that you have all the required documents and they are in the correct format.
• Make sure you have enough time to complete the application.

Completing the form

• The website will often have an ‘Apply now’ link. You may have to register a username and password. Make sure you remember your login details so you can return to your application.
• Type your responses into your own document and transfer the information into the form or database. This allows you to spellcheck your answers and guards against losing information if the computer or website crashes.
• Comply strictly with the word or character limits for your answers.
• Use similar words in your answers to those used by the employer. Often, word recognition programs are used to screen applications.
• Print a copy of your application. Re-read it and get someone who knows about job applications to give you feedback.
• Keep a copy of each application form. When it comes to the interview stage, you need to remember exactly what you’ve told the employer.
• Before submitting the application, make sure you’ve included any relevant attachments (resume, cover letter, statement addressing the selection criteria).
• After you’ve sent your application, you’ll usually receive an automatic acknowledgement.

Answering the questions

• Respond to every question. If the question is not relevant, write ‘not applicable’ rather than leaving it blank.
• Never write ‘refer to resume’ – it makes you look lazy and uninterested in the position.
• Complete any optional questions that give you the chance to explain how your interests, abilities and career goals match the organisation’s requirements.
• Provide relevant examples to back up your responses to questions. This is particularly important when answering behavioural questions.
• You may also be asked to take an online psychometric test.. You’ll usually have only one chance to take the test, so make sure you are relaxed and prepared before you start.

If you want personalised feedback on your resume, try Resume Check – a free online tool.

Using AI technology, Resume Check provides detailed advice on how to improve your resume, including information on:

• Presentation and layout
• Use of active voice
• Achievement statements
• Repetition and words to avoid.

You can upload your resume up to ten times per year to access feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Privacy

When you register to use Resume Check, you’re registering directly with VMock Inc, who collect any personal information you provide in accordance with their privacy policy.

If you’re not comfortable providing your personal information, you may choose to remove your name, contact information or other information from your resume (but this may not guarantee you total anonymity).

Get the app

Download the app and refine your resume on the go.

Congratulations – you’re on your way to securing your dream role! But don’t forget that a professional cover letter, as well as the ability to answer key selection criteria, is also a vital part of the recruitment process.

For professional assistance in these and other career development areas,

Check online workshops at MIT Careers Centre

You've applied for a job and have been invited by the organisation to attend an interview – Congratulations! This means you’re above other candidates and are ready for your next step.

The interview is an opportunity for you to discuss your knowledge, skills and experience and overall suitability for a position with an employer.

Use these steps to help you prepare:

• Types of job interview
• Preparing for job interviews
• Case interviews
• Sample job interview questions
• Attending the job interview
• After the job interview.

Simulate your interviews - Get prepared!

MIT Careers Centreruns simulated workshops that let you hone your interview skills in a supportive environment providing you with confidence and skills so you can excel in an interview situation. As they say, practice makes perfect!

Attend a workshop

You may have been asked to attend a single interview or a series of interviews. Your interview may be face-to-face, by telephone, or via a webcam (through Skype, Google Hangouts, etc) or you may be asked to create and upload a video using a computer or smartphone. Telephone interviews are often used as an initial screening tool to narrow down the list of applicants.

Interview format

The interview can take various forms:

• One-on-one: these interviews are generally used at or near the end of the process
• Panel: these include more than one interviewer, for example, an HR representative, line manager and team member
• Group: some employers interview applicants together in groups. This enables them to see a large number of people and to create a short list of candidates. Group sizes vary, and employers will not always tell you how the group interview will work or what they are looking for.

Interviews may include various activities:

• Group activities
• Questions to the group that require individual responses. This allows the employer to see who performs best in a competitive environment
• An invitation to a meal with several applicants and the employer – this informal situation is still an interview.

Structured and unstructured interviews

Structured interviews are used widely to select graduates for a position. For example:

• Applicants may be asked to provide examples to show how they have dealt with different situations in the past (behavioural interviews)
• Applicants may be asked to solve a business problem that is presented as a question, situation or challenge.

Resources

How to Interview well workshops and information

Research the organisation

Employers expect you to be able to say why you want to work for their organisation and to know something about them. So, before you attend the interview, ensure that you are familiar with the companies:

• History, mission, values and leadership team
• Products, services and clients
• The industry and industry competitors.

You can find out about an organisation by:

• Looking at their website, LinkedIn page, annual reports and other promotional material
• Reading industry journals, the Australian Financial Review, and business sections of newspapers
• Talking to contacts who work in the industry, people in similar organisations or members of relevant professional associations.

Research the job

Make sure you read the job advertisement or position description carefully so that you understand the main selection criteria and the responsibilities of the position.

Evaluate your suitability

You need to be able to speak with confidence in the interview. Spend time thinking about the experiences, skills and qualifications that you would like to highlight to show your suitability for the role:

• What strengths, skills and qualities will you bring to the role?
• What have you learned in your degree that might be relevant to this role?
• What have you learned from work or extra-curricular experiences that may help in this role?
• Why are you the right person for the job?
• Why is the role, and working in the industry, important to you?

Think about the questions you’ll be asked

Using the selection criteria and position description, think about questions you might be asked. You’ll need to demonstrate examples of your employability skills, and sample interview questions can help you do this.

To help prepare for interview questions, you can also:

• Attend a ‘How to interview well’ workshop
• Once you complete a workshop, request feedback on your interview skills
• Review our interview skills resources and complete the quiz.

Practise your responses

Choose a few of the key questions you expect to be asked and try answering them aloud, as if you were in an interview. You may find this hard at first, but gradually the right words and examples will come. The more familiar you are with the process, the more comfortable you are likely to be in the interview.

You could practise:

• By using Interactive online tools
• By recording yourself
• With a friend or family member asking the questions
• In front of a mirror.

Resources

• Ribit is MIT Careers Centre’s online platform that allows you to practise your interview questions, develop and better understand the skills you need.
• Online workshops offered by our Careers Centre i.e.
  • Communicate with Impact
  • Personal Brand.

In a case interview, you’re required to solve a business problem presented as a question, situation, or challenge.

Your task is to:

• Ask questions, to help you identify the main problems
• Develop and present a framework for analysing the problems
• Use the framework to come to a conclusion or recommendation.

Case interviews can be one-on-one or in groups. They are commonly used by management consulting firms and investment banking organisations (and increasingly by other organisations) as part of the selection process. Approaches vary between companies, but you may be asked to:

• lead an interactive discussion about your approach and conclusions to a case
• develop a written response to a case, present your recommendations and lead a discussion
• respond to specific questions about a case study and provide recommendations.

What do employers assess?

During the case interview, the employer assesses your ability to creatively deal with complex business problems. You must demonstrate logical, structured thinking and provide practical solutions to business problems.

The employer is looking for skills and attributes such as:

• Analytical and logical reasoning ability
• Creativity
• Numerical and verbal reasoning
• Problem-solving ability
• Organisational and time management
• Ability to think quickly under pressure
• Presentation and communication skills
• Confidence, business acumen and professionalism.

Types of questions

Brain teasers

Brain teasers are logic questions used to gauge your problem-solving skills. Some questions are straightforward logic puzzles. Others could be answered in various ways by applying lateral thinking that doesn't rely on conventional responses. They allow you to demonstrate your creative and analytical thinking.

Role plays

In a role play, you will be the consultant and the interviewer will be the client or manager. This is a common type of case interview for management consulting roles. You need to discuss the issue with the client, ask relevant questions (to collect information), analyse the situation and develop recommendations. It’s an opportunity to display client relationship skills and show that you enjoy solving problems.

Graphic interpretation

Graphic interpretation questions are used by strategy firms. You’re required to review and interpret statistical data presented in a chart or graph.

Case interview scenarios

Business situations

Business situations test how much general business knowledge you have and whether you can apply it to a common business problem. There are several types of business questions, including:

• Profit and loss
• Organisational structure
• Implementation of new technology
• Marketing scenarios.

In most cases, you are required to give a verbal response. Your interviewer will probably draw on their own client experience to guide you through the situation.

Business strategy

Good business strategy questions tackle areas such as market sizing, logic puzzles, and multiple operations problems. Complex business strategy questions can deal with multi-industry, multi-national and multi-issue problems or more localised scenarios, allowing the interviewer to probe your abilities in a variety of areas.

Common types of business strategy scenarios might involve:

• Advising a client about an acquisition
• Responding to a competitive move by another company in the industry
• Evaluating opportunities for a new product introduction.

The best way to answer is to use a problem-solving framework. This means setting out a plan in the beginning, organising your analysis and following it through to conclusion.

Business operations

Business operations case scenarios deal with the actual running of the business and are more complex than market-sizing questions or brainteasers. They require basic business knowledge and common sense, as well as clear and efficient thinking.

Consultants like these questions because they allow them to see whether you understand fundamental issues related to running a business; for example:

• The relationship between revenues and costs
• The relationship and impact of fixed and variable costs on a company’s profitability.

Business operations questions require you to demonstrate a good grasp of business processes and an ability to sort through a pile of information and home in on the most important matters. Operations questions may have many potential answers.

Market sizing

Market-sizing scenarios require you to determine the size of a particular market (for example, the total amount spent in Australia at the movies). Questions might be simple or complex, requiring you to analyse information to identify the issues. Market-sizing scenarios may test your numerical and analytical skills, as well as your ability to use logic, creativity and common sense.

Tips for case interviews

Preparation

Research the organisation and industry. Ask what case interview approach will be used, since this will vary between organisations.

There are many online resources, some provided by consulting companies, which provide insight into the process and practice of case studies.

On the day

Deliver your responses in a logical and orderly way. Business models can offer a framework for organising information and thought processes. Take time to show how you analyse an unfamiliar problem before reaching a practical solution. Remember, there is no right way of doing a case interview, nor is there a single answer – how you reach your conclusion is what matters.

You can follow these steps to generate a hypothesis and supporting arguments:

1. Listen closely to the situation description and make notes. Paraphrase the question back to the interviewer to make sure you understand it.
2. Ask the interviewer focused, relevant questions to evaluate the situation. Questions are expected and are an essential part of the process.
3. Create an approach or framework that focuses on critical issues and guides your analysis.
4. Analyse the problem.
5. Lead discussion on the options explored, building a case for the decision you would recommend.
6. Clearly summarise your final analysis and conclusions.
7. Think aloud so that the interviewer understands the direction of your thinking and the process you use.
8. Don’t rush to conclusions. Silence, and taking time to think, is okay. You may also want to write down your findings and assumptions – the interviewer may wish to view these.
9. It’s important to manage your time efficiently and show confidence in your judgement.

Resources

• Management consulting case interviews – Ace the Case
• Interview preparation video: Different answers to the same case interview question
• Interview tips – McKinsey & Company
• Practice case interviews – The Boston Consulting Group

To prepare for your interview, you’ll need to practise your responses to a range of interview questions. However, don’t memorise your answers ‒ you want to sound natural and unrehearsed. The aim is to be able to respond thoughtfully to the different types of questions you’ll be asked.

The selection criteria and position description will give you an idea of what interview questions to expect. Most employers create questions that test your ability to meet the selection criteria.

Ice-breaker questions

Often an interview starts with an ice-breaker question to help develop a rapport between the interviewer and interviewee:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why have you applied for this role?

Resume-based questions

The interviewer may ask you to expand on information in your resume.

• It says on your resume that you have experience in X. Tell us some more about that.
• Your resume says you studied X. How will that help you in this role?
• Tell me about your university studies. Why did you decide to study X?
• I see that you have studied X. How has your university experience prepared you for this job?

Organisational awareness questions

You could be asked questions about your knowledge of the organisation.

• Why do you want to work for us?
• What do you know about our organisation?
• Why does this industry/job/company interest you?

Career motivation questions

Career motivation questions check that your career goals match the job you’re applying for.

• Why did you choose this career?
• What would you like to be doing in five years?
• How do you stay knowledgeable about the industry?
• Why did you leave your last position?

Self-awareness questions

Self-awareness questions assess your awareness of your personal qualities, skills or areas that need further development:

• Do you think you are an (innovative/determined/enthusiastic/considerate) person? Why do you think so?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?

When answering the weaknesses question:

• Choose a weakness that you’ve corrected or learned to manage – you need to be able to describe your strategy for overcoming the weakness
• Don’t choose a weakness that suggests you are unsuitable for the position.

Technical questions

An employer may be interested in your technical knowledge and skills and ask related questions:

• What legal issues will you need to be aware of in this role?
• How have you used XYZ system at university or in employment?
• What are some of the professional boundaries that you might need to negotiate?
• What standards do you need to be aware of in this role? How do you keep your knowledge of those standards up to date?

Hypothetical questions or scenarios

Hypothetical questions evaluate your problem-solving skills:

• How would you deal with an irate co-worker? What do you think the result would be?
• How would you deal with an angry customer on the phone? Why would you take this approach?
• How would you approach a task that you had never done before?

Behavioural questions

Behavioural questions are the most popular type of interview question. Interviewers expect you to respond with specific examples from your experiences. Employers use these questions because they believe past behaviour is a good indication of future behaviour.

The behaviours employers are looking for are usually based around employability skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, initiative, etc. These questions often start with a phrase such as, ‘Tell me about a time when you ...’, ‘Describe a situation when you’.

An employer might ask: ‘Can you tell me about a time when you used your initiative to improve something in the workplace?’

More examples of behavioural questions

• Describe a recent work or study-related problem. Tell me about the action you took to solve the problem. What was the outcome?
• Tell me about a situation in which you have had to adjust quickly to changes in organisational priorities. How did this change affect you?
• Describe how you documented your last project. How did you structure it? What was your involvement specifically? What was the outcome?
• Can you describe a situation where you had to obtain co-operation from a person or group? What did you do to achieve this? What was the result?
• Describe a team project you have been involved in. Who were the team members? What role did you take? What were the results?
• Tell me about a time when you have had the opportunity to lead others.
• Tell me about a time when you weren't pleased with your performance. What did you do about it?

Be prepared

Before the interview, ensure that you have all the details you’ll need. Note the start and finish times, date and place of the interview, and contact the organisation to find out the names and titles of your interviewers and how the interview will be structured. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have a contact number, just in case you are delayed or something unexpected happens.

Look professional and well groomed

First impressions are important. Research the company’s dress code and make sure you meet or exceed the standard. Dressing well shows you are serious about the job.

For most interviews, you’ll need to wear conservative corporate clothing. Normally, you dress more formally for an interview than you do as an employee:

• Make sure your clothes are pressed and clean
• Limit your aftershave/perfume and jewellery (including piercings)
• If you identity as a male, wear a tie.

Demonstrate professionalism

Before the day of the interview, make sure you know how to get there and how long it will take you. Aim to arrive about 10 minutes early. This way you’ll have time to sit and collect your thoughts before the interview begins.

Avoid distractions

Turn off your mobile phone or switch it to silent mode before you arrive.

Be polite and attentive

Be polite and courteous to everyone you meet during the interview, from the moment you enter the building to the moment you leave.

Be aware of body language

Body language is important. Research has suggested that your non-verbal communication or body language makes up over 75 per cent of your overall communication.

At the start of the interview, offer those interviewing you a firm handshake. During the interview, demonstrate good posture, sit up straight, rest your hands in your lap and maintain eye contact with your interviewers. This demonstrates interest and alertness.

Take notes

Always make sure you take a few relevant notes during the interview. This will convey a professional image, and the information can be used in any follow-up interviews.

Answer questions thoughtfully

Listen to the whole question

Don’t start answering questions in your mind before they are finished. Take a few moments to think about your answer. It’s fine to ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question. When you answer, ensure your tone and language convey your enthusiasm.

Always answer honestly

If you’ve been honest in your application, you are there because the employer believes you may be suitable for the job.

Handle inappropriate questions professionally

Not all interviewers are aware of questions they are not supposed to ask. For example, they shouldn’t ask about your age, religion, ethnic background, marital status or gender, because none of those matters are relevant to your ability to do the job. If asked those types of questions:

• politely ask why they are interested or why they think the question is relevant
• try to work out what their real concern is, and respond to that.

Ask insightful questions

Asking questions during an interview is a great opportunity to show an employer that you are genuinely interested. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate that you have the skills, knowledge and experience to excel within the organisation.

Prepare a list of questions

Try not to ask questions that could have been answered by doing some basic desktop research before the interview. Insightful questions show you are serious about the role and have done your homework. Questions that show you have done some research will be looked on positively.

Typical questions you might ask are:

• How do you measure an employee’s success in your organisation?
• In what ways do you support staff in their continuing education?
• What areas does your organisation prioritise in professional development?
• What are the three most important things you would like me to accomplish if I came into this role?
• I saw in the newspaper that your CEO is committed to corporate social responsibility. What are the effects of this on the culture of the organisation?

End the interview on a positive note

• Usually employers will tell you what the next steps are in the selection process. If not, ask what the next steps are and how you will be notified.
• At the end of the interview, restate your interest in, and suitability for, the role. Smile and thank the interviewers for seeing you.

Reflect on your experience

You should treat every interview as a learning experience. After your interview, write down the interview questions and review your performance. Think about what went well and what you could have done better.

Send a thank-you note

Write a thank-you email to the employer. You might need to do some research to find their email address, but it’s important.

Thank them for seeing you and reaffirm your interest in the role. Keep it brief and professional. Not many applicants do this, and it’s one way of standing out from the crowd.

Get a response

Usually an employer will get back to you within a week of the interview, unless they tell you otherwise. If you don’t hear from them, you could call and politely ask how the selection process is going.

Ask for feedback

If you are not offered the job, ask for feedback on your application and interview. You can use this information to help you improve your interviewing skills.

With experience, you’ll be able to market yourself better, handle difficult questions with more confidence and be more relaxed in interviews.

Pre-employment tests are often used as part of the selection process. Some employers believe they offer a level of objectivity, reliability and validity not always offered by interviews. Often, employers use them when recruiting graduates to help select candidates with the right mix of skills and personal qualities.

Tests help employers:

• Deal efficiently with large numbers of applicants
• Rank candidates
• Note similarities and differences between them.

Aptitude tests

Aptitude tests assess natural ability or aptitude rather than knowledge or experience. Usually, they are timed, so it’s important to work quickly, but accurately. Read the instructions carefully before beginning – you may not be expected to answer all of the questions.

Types of aptitude tests

• Verbal reasoning
• Analysing written information
• Abstract reasoning
• Analysing a problem presented visually
• Numerical reasoning
• Interpreting numerical and statistical information

Personality tests

Personality tests provide insight into how you might behave in certain situations (for example, how you might approach and solve problems). They help assess whether you’ll be a good fit for the hiring organisation. There are no right answers, but organisations use your responses to develop a profile, which is compared to their ideal candidate.

Common personality tests

• Work preferences

  How you work best, including how you work in teams and how you gain satisfaction from work

• Emotional intelligence

  How well you manage emotions and recognise them in your own behaviour and others’ behaviour

Prepare for a test

Make sure you practise using sample tests and get a good night’s sleep before the day of the test.

On the day:

• Read the instructions carefully
• Make sure you understand the instructions and ask if anything is unclear
• Manage your time well by not spending too much time on one question
• Don’t waste time trying to guess what the employer wants.

Sample tests

You can practise using free sample tests on the following websites:

• AssessmentDay
• Institute of Psychometric Coaching
• Keirsey
• PwC – psychometric tests
• Practice Aptitude Tests
• Practice Reasoning
• Psychometric Success
• SHL

How do you deal with setbacks and uncertainty? Maybe you’ve had job applications rejected or your career isn’t progressing as planned. If you are employed, you may be dealing with difficult circumstances, colleagues or managers, your job may not be meeting your expectations, or you may have missed out on a well-deserved promotion or recognition.

Resilient people respond to these circumstances by using their adaptability, creativity and problem-solving skills. They see life’s challenges as interesting problems that they need to solve, dealing with uncertainty as something to be faced and to learn from. They can do this because they are prepared to learn, take calculated risks, believe in themselves, and follow their hearts.

Plan your career

Career planning can help you deal with setbacks by keeping you focused on your career goals while you’re working towards them. If you’re not sure of your goals, think about the things that give you meaning, enjoyment and fulfilment. What skills would you like to use? Where would you like to work? The next step is to create an action plan to help you develop your career in manageable steps.

 conducts regular workshops and information sessions designed to help you with crafting a career plan, enhancing your employability skills and fostering resilience when encountering obstacles. All services are free and can be arranged through the MIT Careers Centre.

Reserve your place now

Keep learning

It’s important to continue developing your existing skills but also to identify new skills you could learn. You could participate in professional association conferences and other development events or you could do a short course, a free online course (e.g. to learn about new software or technology), or discuss your options with colleagues.

Online resources

• MOOCs (a massive directory of open online courses)
• TED videos from experts in your field

Use your MIT support network

Make use of your support network and offer to do something for someone else. This will:

• Show your commitment to your area of work
• Demonstrate your availability and encourage people to speak well of you
• Help you develop a sense of achievement
• Put you in touch with potential mentors.

• Expand your network and learn more about how to get involved with MIT Alumni.
• Take part in your professional association’s development and networking events – this will give you an opportunity to meet and network with people who are interested in the same industry as you.
• Seek feedback early and often
• It is a good way to learn and it can help you improve the quality of your application documents, career goals and associated strategies.
• Maintain good habits
• by spending time with family and friends and doing other activities that you enjoy. Remember to keep setbacks in perspective and evaluate your effectiveness. Decide what you are doing well and what you might do differently next time. And always be kind to yourself by ensuring you control what you can and accept the things you can’t. Practising resilience can help you create your own luck.

Resources

• The Road to Resilience (American Psychological Association)
• Psychologists Explain Why You Procrastinate — And How to Stop (Time)
• Importance of Resilience – Coping With Crisis (Verywell Mind)
• Ten Ways to Improve Your Resilience (Verywell Mind)
• Resilience: How to build a bulletproof vest (Women’s Agenda)