HIGHLIGHTS OF CAPACITY BUILDING SESSION 1 AND SESSION II:"WRITING A WINNING CV" AND "ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW"

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF SESSION 1:"WRITING A WINNING CV"

Two faculty members of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr. Lydia Aziato and Dr. Mary Ani-Amponsah facilitated a seminar which was dubbed “WRITING A WINNING CV” on April 14, 2018 at SONM Auditorium. They offered expert advice and professional services on how to develop, audit and enrich CV to maximize market value after School. Similarly, Dr. Adelaide M. Ansah-Ofei and Dr. Lydia Aziato also facilitated a lecture on the  “Elements of a successful interview”  on April 21, 2018 at the SONM Auditorium. Regarding the CV, they offered expert advice and professional services on how to develop, audit and enrich CV to maximize market value after School. This is paramount because jobs are not readily available after School and a good CV could increase chances when seeking employment.

Do not make the mistake of underestimating the significance of a CV. People who do not consider their CVs as important as themselves could be a great disadvantage.

 

 

 FACILITATOR: DR. LYDIA AZIATO

 

FACILITATOR: DR. MARY ANI-AMPONSAH

 

FACILITATOR: DR. ADELAIDE M. ANSAH OFEI

 

THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE STARTING YOUR CV

1.       Your CV should be clean, neat (well organized), look professional, free from grammatical and spelling errors

2.       Your CV should be written in font size 12 (times new roman's), calibri and Aerial is accepted but mostly "times new roman" is recommended

3.       One CV is not used for all purposes, the nature of your CV depends on what you intend to use it for

4.       Your CV should be printed in A4 sheet (recommended) and write your date of birth as well (very important) should be included at the personal details

 

A  SECTION OF THE AUDIENCE

 

COMPONENTS OF A CV

A CV should have a heading and it should be written at the top CURRICULUM VITAE, followed by

1.       PERSONAL DETAILS: Name in full, Reliable address (students can use their institution address) Email address (should be professional, avoid emails such as sexygirl@hotmail.com etc

 

2.       EDUCATIONAL LEVEL/ QUALIFICATIONS: Start with the most recent one including your current study downward

Example: BSc Nursing 2016 – date (University of Ghana)

                  WASSCE 2013- 2016 (Prempeh College)

NB: 1) You can state class obtained, this is optional and should be kept in bracket. The duration

of study is usually not necessary but the year of completion is always necessary eg. May 2017

but if you choose to add the duration it should be consistent throughout. Don't include BECE.

 

3.      RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE.

·         Start with the most current work experience

·         Don't just list your duties but provide evidence

·         We were encouraged as nursing students to add our Clinical experience in this portion stating the hospitals, ward, the dates and the role played

Students were again encouraged to add roles played during extra curricula activities such as leadership roles in UGHANMSA and positions as Class representatives. The emphasis was placed on the role instead of the positions. All voluntary services as well as community participation should be included in this section.

 

4.     ACADEMIC ASPECT OF CV

·         Include publications (mostly for lecturers or those teaching)

·         Include review and editorial experience

·         Include students supervised (mentorship)

·         Nursing Care study and Research should be included (for students)

 

5.      COMMITTEES AND BOARDS

Include committees and boards served, include your position (president /vice, member, etc) start with the most recent

 

6.      WORKSHOP/ SEMINARS / CONFERENCES

·         Start with the most recent first

·         Indicate the role you played, the theme, presentation title, organizers, date and place

·         Registered nurses should add all workshops attended at their various facilities and elsewhere

NB: We are encouraged to make good use of the numerous seminars being organized in the university community.

 

7.       OTHER INFORMATION / SKILLS ACQUIRED

·         Team player

·         Organization skills

·         Innovative, etc

 

8.       OTHER INCLUSIONS

·         Indicate languages, next of kin, marital status and children (their ages and gender)

 

9.      REFEREES

·         Three (3) referees is great

·         should be included in the CV not on request

·         Referees can change from time to time

·         Always contact your referee before including them

·         Your referee should have knowledge in your field of study or area of job seeking for (one from SONM, your work place, etc)

·         Avoid using your pastor, wife /husband as your referee unless it's very relevant

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF SESSSION II: ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

The topic for the training progamme was “Elements of a successful interview” and was facilitated by Dr. Adelaide M. Ansah-Ofei and Dr. Lydia Aziato on April 21, 2018 at 2:00pm at the SONM Auditorium. Excelling at an interview is not an easy task. You are trying to present yourself as the most desirable candidate and beat out all the rest. In addition to competing against a group of strangers, you also have to plead your case to experts. It seems the only key to success is you. The training was necessary to enhance the employability skills of our graduates. . A million thanks to the Dean and Dr.  Adelaide Ansah Ofei for sacrificing their precious weekends to deliver an impactful knowledge on successful interviews.

DEFINITION

An interview is the face- to-face conversation between an applicant and a panel of experts to assess his/her capabilities for a job or position.

A  SECTION OF THE AUDIENCE

 

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Applicants must do or consider the following before the interview.

1.       REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION.

·         Read everything and be confident in what is expected of you.

·         Master on how to explain problems or gaps in your CV or work history.

·         Formulate possible questions and answer them.

·         Keep a copy of your CV and application and carry them along.

A  SECTION OF THE AUDIENCE

 

2.      RESEARCH THE COMPANY

·         Search the company website for pertinent information about them and your job area. This could include the history, services and mission of the company.

 

3.       PLAN YOUR JOURNEY.

·         Be punctual

·         Make sure you know the place and how to get there.

·         Have a backup plan.

 

4.       DRESS TO IMPRESS

·         *NB*Your appearance will be judged.

·         Look professional and feel confident

·         Appear well groomed and neat.

·         Wear something you will comfortable in it

·         Don't use wigs. They make your look weird and old.

·         Men can only put on wedding rings

 

5.       WHAT TO TAKE ALONG

Pen and book, bottle of water, relevant certificates (original copies are preferred) CV, interview invitation letter, and other relevant documents.

 

6.       JOB INTERVIEW CONSTRUCT

General traits

·         Mental ability: your ability to learn and process information. 

·         Personality: conscientiousness, agreeableness, interest, goals, emotional stability and your openness to new experience.

·         Experiential factors: job relevant knowledge from prior experiences and education.

Core job elements

·         Declarative knowledge: that is applicant's learned knowledge.

·         Procedural skills and abilities 

The ability to complete task.

·         Motivation

Applicant's willingness to exert the effort required for the job.

7.     

INTREVIEW PERFORMANCE CONSTRUCT

This evaluates the applicant's responses and behavior in an interview. It is classified into 3 categories.

a.       Social effectiveness skill.

·         Impression management

·         Social skill: your ability to adopt a behavior according to the demands of the situation to positively influence interviewers.

·         Self-monitoring: Regulation of one's behavior especially unconscious mannerism like nail biting, slanting speeches and gestures to present a good image of yourself.

·         Relational control: your attempt to control the flow of the conversation.

 

b.      Interpersonal presentation

·         Verbal expression: don't be too fast or too slow, too loud or too low.

·          Nonverbal behavior: your gaze, smile, hand shake and gestures. 

Note: Always look into the eyes of the one questioning you, because that is a sign of confidence.

 

c.       Personal /contextual factors

·         Interview training: this includes coaching, mock interviews with feedbacks.

·         Interview experience: number of prior interviews.

 

8.       WAYS TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION

a.       Be positive

·         Answer all questions positively

·         Avoid talking about your personal problems.  The interviewers are not there to pity you.

·         Never say anything negative about your previous work and employers.

 

b.      Body language

·         Give a firm handshake to your interviewers before and after (where possible)

·         Calm yourself throughout the interview.

·         Good posture: Sit naturally and let your back rest or touch the chair.

 

c.       Clarity.

·         Answers all questions clearly.

·         Be simple and straight forward.

·         Ask for clarification of question when necessary

·         Avoid using jaggons, complex words, social media language and abbreviations.

 

d.      Enthusiasm

·         Show interest.

·         Allow your personality to shine throughout.

 

9.       QUALITIES EMPLOYERS SEEK

·         Good-all-round intelligence.

·         Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation.

·         Good communication skills.

·         Ability to solve problems.

·         Team work.

·         Innovation

 

10.   COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Question: Tell us about yourself.

Answer: tell them about your education (starting from SHS) to your highest level and your job experiences (only the good things)

 

Question: What are your strength and weaknesses?

Answer: talk about only your strength and may be only weaknesses that you have solved.

 

Question: Where do you want to be 5yrs from now?

Answer: Talk about you progressing in the company and how you will move the company forward. Don't use that job as a stepping stone.

 

Question: What are your salary requirements?

Answer: For a private company, find out what they are offering you and then add on to it, taking into consideration your educational level and work experience.

 

Question: Why are you leaving your current job?

Answer: NB. Do not criticize that job and your former employers. You can say “I have acquired enough knowledge and skills over there and I now want a more challenging experience and I think this company can offer me that chance"

 

Question: Why should we hire you?

Answer: Talk about your personal skills that when you bring on board would help the company to progress.  Do not talk about being a team player, a good communicator etc. 

 

11.   AFTER THE INTERVIEW

·         Thank the panel courteously.

·         Extend for a handshake per the situation

·         Exhibit enthusiasm in the career opportunity.

·         Ask only sensible questions when given the chance to do so.