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Landing That Elusive Graduate Job

A Guide to Graduate Interviewing
Oracle Campus Recruitment Team

Table of Contents
Introduction Where to Start? Where should you go to look for Graduate Opportunities? Opening the interview door? Preparing a Great Resume Interview Preparation: Getting Ready for the Interview Interviews: You have your Foot in the Door, What now? Telephone Interview Behavioral Interviews Group interviews Technical Interviews Your Work Has Paid Off. Being Offered the Role You have accepted the Job, what now?

Introduction
For many students, the final year of their studies is a very busy time. The coursework is demanding and you want to make sure you are ready for final exams so you can finish your University Career on a high note. While focusing on your studies and enjoying your University lifestyle, Graduates also need to start thinking about making that transition to life after University. With so many different areas taking up Graduates time (school, career choice, family and friends, etc.) some forward planning and organising may help Graduates work out what it is they want to do after University and work out the best way to get there.
I will begin my professional career soon. I need to prepare and organise to get ready..

We have put together a brief How to Interview Guide for Graduate Opportunities to help you make that transition from University to Corporate life. We hope this helps and wish you the best of luck in your future career (potentially with Oracle).

Where to Start?
The first thing you need to work out before you start applying for a Graduate opportunity is to answer the question: What do I want to do? Every person has different career ambitions. What is it you enjoy doing in your University studies? Do you enjoy Java programming or your Economics classes? Once you work out what it is you enjoy you can then start to look for and search for Graduate opportunities that will take you where you want to go.

There are numerous Graduate opportunities available. Once you know what you want to do you can target Graduate opportunities that apply to you. For example, if your objective is to be a Java Programmer applying for a Business Graduate Program may not be the best program for you to apply for. The thinking that it is best to apply for everything and anything out there may not make best use of your time.
So now you know you want to be a Programmer, Banker, Lawyer, etc. The next thing to consider is: Where should you go to look for Graduate Opportunities?

Decide what you want to do. Decide your Career options. Then proceed with looking for Job opportunities. We will help you evaluate where and how you need to look for opportunities.

Where should you go to look for Graduate Opportunities?

There are two schools of thought on searching for Graduate Programs: 1. The traditional way and 2. Utilising information online through search and social networking.

Both of these ways work and utilising both means of search together will likely return the best result for you.

What is the difference between looking for a Graduate role the traditional way and via an online search?
Traditional Graduate Job Searching involves: includes looking for jobs on your Campus Job Board or website, talking you your career counselors, going to Campus Talks when companies visit Universities, etc All of these are great ways to find out about Graduate Programs and Companies who are hiring. This is a tried and tested way for Graduates to find a Graduate Job opportunity. With the explosion of information available on the internet many companies now broadcast information about their Graduate Roles and Programs online. This can be done through a company website, Facebook page, Twitter Account, BBS System, Online Forums, etc. A Google search using the right keywords can give you fantastic results and all from the comfort of your home. Companies want to be found online and they will share information about their Graduate Program and hiring plans it is often a case of if you search for it, you will find it. There could be numerous companies hiring Graduate Programmers in your city it is a case of searching them out and connecting with them.

By now you know the type of role you want and you have found the dream Company you want to work and they are hiring.

What now?

Opening the Interview Door? Preparing a Great Resume

A good Resume is a key which can open the interview door for you. How do you convince an employer to interview you in 30 seconds? Let me show you. A good resume needs to summarize your basic information, job objective, education background, experience, skills and abilities.

Research Yourself
What should you do before you write a resume?

Research the Position

Research the Organization

Opening the interview door? Preparing a Great Resume

Basic Information Make it stand out

Experience Employers name City and state of employer Employment dates Job title Tasks and accomplishments

Name
Phone Number E-mail Address Street Address City, State, Zip Education Name of University Type of degree Major Date of graduation GPA (if 3.5 or above) Relevant coursework Academic honors

Skills and Abilities

Both technical skill and nontechnical skill Job Objective

What do you want to do?

What can you do? Think twice

Target the skills/experience listed in the position that is being advertised

Interview Preparation: Getting Ready for the Interview:

The first impression can be a lasting impression. Considering this, it is important to pay enough attention to this essential fact. It takes a few seconds for the interviewer to evaluate you based on your body language, your appearance, your mannerisms and how you are dressed.

Research the company, find out about the company (what do they do, their products, their culture, their people) Dress appropriately: Find out what is the best way to dress depending on the country, culture and weather. For example in some locations companies may expect students in formal wear, including a tie, where this may not make sense in all countries or locations. Dress appropriately: Formal or Casual? Talk to your Recruiter and find out. If the company has specified the dress code, it would be best to adhere. Regardless of the type of clothes make sure you wear clean and comfortable clothes. Be well groomed and presentable, remember first impressions count

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Interview Preparation: Getting Ready for the Interview:

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Rest well and be relaxed: A good nights sleep before your interview will allow you to begin your day in the right frame of mind and with all the energy you will need. Depending on the type of interview you may want to bring with you: Place 2 copies of the resume, extra writing paper and a pen as well as all relevant documents in a folder. Carry a few copies of the passport size photos. If possible, place a glue-stick and a mini stapler in your folder. Just before the interview, remember to switch off your mobile or to keep in on silent mode. Eat a good breakfast this will help fuel you through the day. If possible carry a bottle of water and a snack, just in case your interview is delayed. Many students, in their enthusiasm to appear for the interview, skip their meal, which may not leave you at your best.

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Interviews: You have your Foot in the Door, What now?

You have sent in your resume, you have answered any online aptitude tests and now it is time for interviewing. You havent interviewed before but dont stress, the main thing to remember is to be yourself companies want to hire YOU the person that you are, so be yourself.
I have been selected to come in for an interview. What can I expect when interviewing?

There are a number of different types of interviews that companies may put you through. Some technical, some behavioral remember companies are looking to hire people who not only can do the job they have open but they also are looking for Graduates who will fit into that companys culture and ethic.
Some different types of interview that you may be asked to participate in:

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Telephone Interview
Just because this is talking place on the phone, do not take this interview lightly. It is still an interview and the person talking to you will be assessing you based on your discussion with them. Telephone interviews tend to be pre-screening type interviews that can last for anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes. Employers are likely looking for information to ensure you meet their criteria whether it is technical fit or why you want to work with them.

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Behavioral Interviews
The thinking behind behavioral interviews is that the best predictor of future performance is past performance. In behavioral interviews companies link behaviors that you exhibited to core competencies. An example of a behavioral question could be: "Describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult coworker or customer?" Behavioral questions tend to follow the STAR Format:
1. 2. 3. 4. Situation Task Action Result :Tell us a time when you........ :How did you go about completing your task / project? :Step us through how you went about completing the task / project. :What was the outcome?

Companies are looking for how well you articulate your answer through the 4 phases listed above. To prepare, write out some questions and rehearse the answers to either a friend or family member. Go through your resume to refresh your memory about your school history. You can use experiences outside work/school as well such as community work or sports if it demonstrates your point. With the proper preparation you will be ready for this type of interview.

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Group interviews
Candidates may be required to participate in group exercises. These can take the form of group problem-solving sessions where each candidate's contributions and participation is noted. During these exercises the interviewers watch and listen to the candidates to see how they interact with others, work in a team to assess candidates against a set of competencies. The competencies/skills that may be observed may include communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to influence others, leadership, organisational skills and the ability to work as a team-member. Other behaviors that interviewers may be looking for may include the ability to handle stress, to deal with feedback and to analyse and problem-solve.

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Technical Interviews
Technical interviews can be completed online or in person. They are many ways for companies to measure and assess your technical aptitude or competence in a given technical skill set. Interviewers are not trying to trick you; they likely want to see the thought process involved you use to come to a solution. Remember in a Graduate Program, companies will invest the time and effort to teach you the technology they use. They are likely assessing if you have the capability to learn and work with that technology. In software development roles it is all about problem solving. Software Development is a wide and varied field. Even the best developers get stuck. Successful developers know how to create answers to technical problems or find ways around road blocks.

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Your Work Has Paid Off: Being Offered the Role

This landing a Graduate Job process is probably longer and more involved than you first thought. Companies want to make sure they hire the right people who could become future leaders of the company. It is not a decision taken lightly. When the Company contacts you to inform you of their decision, take the opportunity to ask any outstanding questions you may have. You want to make an informed decision. This is an exciting time, make sure to celebrate your success - but stay focused on completing your studies and your University career on a strong note. With many Graduate Programs you may be offered a graduate role before you even complete your studies and you may not start for 3-6 months after you actually receive your formal Letter of Offer. Some Graduates will be wondering what all they can do after receiving a call from the company congratulating them that they have been offered a role in their Graduate Development Program.
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You Have Accepted the Job, What Now?

Graduates may be wondering what all they can do after receiving a call from the company congratulating them that they have been offered a role in their Graduate Development Program.

1. If you are still completing your studies, buckle down and finish your studies on a strong note. The last thing you want to do is have to turn down your dream opportunity because you didnt complete all your subjects.
2. While you are waiting to start your new role you can take this opportunity to read up more about the company. Read about the history and services products so that you will get a better understanding of the environment and culture. Find out what is the company you will be joining will really be about. 3. If you havent looked already many companies have blogs or Facebook pages where you can get some great information and insight into the company you are joining.

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You Have Accepted the Job, What Now?

4. If you have been used to weekday evenings at the University Pub, you may need to adjust your late nights on weekdays since the next day will be a working day and you will need to be sharp at work. Go out and have fun but Late nights out may have to be reserved for Friday/Saturday nights. 5. A good idea is to talk to some of your peers who already are in the workforce and ask them how life has been different for them since they finished University. Its Welcome to working life. Its probably still waking up in the morning but to go to work instead of attending lectures at school. 6. You will also want to start stocking up on business attire that is needed for work with a few basic safe colors to match for a start and slowly add on to your closet. What you wore in University may not necessarily be appropriate in a corporate environment. 7. If you have time, get involved in volunteer work and keep yourself occupied. You will find yourself happier after giving back to the society to those who much needed the help.
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Visit the Oracle Campus Team Online for Opportunities:

http://www.facebook.com/CampusAtOracle

http://twitter.com/oracle_campus

http://campus.oracle.com

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