How to get hired!

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Application processes

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Professional Skills Development

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BD-VV-TC

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The recruitment process

1 and 2

Today

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3 and 4

Next session

1. Identify a role you’re interested in

• Identify a role you’re interested in

• What are your interests?
• Planning, Urban Design, GIS, Environmental/Sustainability, something outside of this?
• Where do your skills lie?
• Design, communication, data analysis
• Reflection and mySkills will help you with identifying strength and gaps
• What’s important to you in a job role/organisation?
• Location, progression, APC support, flexible working
• What experience/skills do you need for the job role you want?
• Graduate level roles - know you don’t have lots of experience. But short term work experience can help you stand out!
• If you don’t have them now, how can you get them (placements and work experience)
• Your first role doesn’t have to be your forever role….

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Alumni profiles

What have some USP alumni gone on to do?

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Will Hannah - Planner, Turley

Ethan Cheung - Graduate Transport Planning Consultant, Jacobs

Evie Crowe - GIS Support Officer, Forest Research

Ben Parkes - Graduate Planner, Savills

Josh Day - Senior Policy Advisor, International Biodiversity and Climate Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (D.E.F.R.A)

Beth Firkins - Consultant, Centro Planning

Where to search?

And your own research…

Tips for creating and using your LinkedIn page

Top tips for your search

• Narrow it down - identifying suitable vacancies and employers. Not every job will suit you!
• You can’t, and shouldn’t, apply for every job you find. 10 good, tailored applications are much better than 20 poor, generic ones
• Only apply for jobs you’re interested in - but do keep an open mind…
• Not sure about an organisation?
• Look on their LinkedIn page. You can get a great sense of an organisation for their page
• Is there an alumni working there? Connect with them and ask if they’re happy to speak with you about what it’s like to work there
• Stay organised! Make a spreadsheet of which jobs you’re interested in, what the salary is, the location, the closing date for the application
• Job titles can vary - more likely to see “graduate” in the private sector, whereas public sector might use terms like “assistant”. Make sure to be checking the job description for necessary experience.

2. Application process

2. Application process

You’ve found a job you want to apply for….

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You need to showcase in your application how you meet this - examples from your course or work experience

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How have they asked you to apply?

• CV?
• Covering letter?
• Application form?

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CV

Follow the CV Template - download this and use it as a basis for your CV

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If you follow this template, include all the relevant information and complete all sections to a high standard you will have a high quality CV

CV - Top Tips!

• No longer than 2 sides of A4
• Make sure you’ve included all your personal/contact details including your LinkedIn profile (if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile then information to create a LinkedIn profile on can be found here)
• No photo, date of birth etc..
• Add a personal profile, if you want to (but keep it brief)
• Education - make sure your most recent education is first with the correct accreditations where applicable and that you include key modules that you are doing
• Include any work experience, part time work or volunteer work on your CV
• Include a skills section - use the job advert to know which skills you need to highlight
• Use the STARR method to give examples of the skills - don’t just list skills
• “References available on request”

Covering Letter

What is a Covering Letter?

They add context to your CV and allow you to sell your specific skills and experience to potential employers.

It should only be 1 side of A4.

To help you craft a successful covering letter you need to research:

• Who will be reading your cover letter
• The organisation and its culture - what projects do they work on?
• The industry it operates in and any relevant news - keep up to date with the latest sector developments
• Company competitors and market position

Covering Letter

Always try and address your cover letter directly to the person who will be reading it. This is usually on the advert.

If you're struggling to find a named contact you can use a general greeting such as:

• Dear Sir/Madam
• Dear Hiring manager
• Dear Human resources director.

However, general greetings should only be used once you have exhausted methods of finding a named contact.

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Covering Letter - Structure

When writing your cover letter keep it brief, while making sure it emphasises your suitability for the position. It can be broken down into the following sections:

• First paragraph - The opening statement should set out why you're writing the letter. Begin by stating what role you're applying for, why you are interested in that company.
• Second paragraph - Highlight relevant experience and demonstrate how your skills match the area that you want to gain experience in. Summarise any additional strengths and explain how these could benefit the company.
• Third paragraph - Cover why you're suitable for the role, what attracted you to this type of work, why you're interested in working for the company and what you can offer the organisation. This is a good opportunity to show off your knowledge of the company.
• Last paragraph - Use the closing paragraph to round up your letter. Reiterate your interest in the role and organisation and indicate your desire for an interview to find out more. Now is the time to mention any unavailable dates.

Covering Letter - Top Tips

• Final check - once finished read through the document and cut out any unnecessary words and sentences. Don't fill up space by repeating what's already covered in your CV. Ask a friend, coursemate or the PEER team to read over it.
• Sign off your cover letter - depends on how you addressed it. If you include a named contact, sign off 'Yours sincerely'. If you use a general greeting, finish with 'Yours faithfully'
• Tailor to the organisation - You should rewrite your cover letter every time you apply for a position in order to target the company. Sending out a generic letter for all applications rarely yields positive results and recruiters can spot your lack of time and effort from a mile away.
• Format - Presentation is important so you'll need to format your cover letter properly. Make sure the document is as uncluttered as possible, use the same font and size as you use in your CV and if you're sending it through the post or handing it in use good quality plain white paper to print it on.
• Identify your USPs - They're your unique selling points. Be positive about what you have to offer and clearly outline how your skills and experience meet those requested in the job description. Demonstrate why you're the perfect candidate.
• Include examples - Back up the claims in your cover letter with real evidence or examples that show how and when you've used your skills and experience (use the STARR method!)
• Sample cover letters - Careers & Employability Service

Application form

• Some organisations don’t ask for a CV/covering letter, but for an application form.
• It will vary based on each organisation, but generally asks you for similar information that would be in your CV, but in a different format
• E.g. Contact details, education, experience, skills
• Instead of a covering letter, you may be asked to answer pre-set questions. These are normally based on the skills they’re asking for - so again use the STARR method to structure your examples
• Make sure you’re checking what they ask for, don’t assume
• How do you fill in a job application form? - tips from targetjobs

Not all adverts are the same…

Some roles also include a person specification alongside the advert, like this example. These tend to be more common for public sector/local authority roles.

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Use the person specification to make sure you address every point in your application - to showcase you have this skill or experience

The STARR method

Situation – Provide some brief details about the situation so that the reader/listener can understand the context of the example

Task – Explain the objective/purpose, i.e. what you were aiming to do

Action – Describe what YOU did. Summarise your actions in 4 or 5 individual steps, if possible

Result (& Reflect) – Finish with the outcome. Show that you met your objectives and, if appropriate, comment on what you learnt from the experience

Example STARR response

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Showcasing presentation skills - needs to be short and concise in a CV/application

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Whilst on placement I was asked to produce a presentation on the local plan for the area so that I could identify to the team areas to promote

(Situation and Task) - why might this be a good example to use?

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I spoke to my manager to ensure that I was looking at the correct plan and researched potential sites that could be promoted for different uses and why using the appropriate documentation such as the white paper and National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) the local and national policies such as..what could you put here?

(Action)

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The presentation went well and the team were able to progress with some of the sites. This gave me a good into what a graduate planner will do.

(Result & Reflect) - Always look at how it links to the job you are applying for

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LinkedIn

More and more employers are looking at you online, particularly on LinkedIn!

• Google yourself and get friends/family to Google you - ensure there is nothing that shows you in a bad light
• Cleanse your social media profiles
• Check your privacy settings
• Be careful what you post

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Don’t

• Hide - especially for industries that value networking (like planning!)
• Connect to everybody
• Overshare

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More tips and advice here on making and using your LinkedIn profile

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Using GenAI in job applications

Generative AI (GenAI) is being increasingly used by applicants to support them in the job application process. Employers are also using or detecting the use of these tools in their own selection and recruitment processes.

While some organisations might encourage the responsible use of AI, others may wish to detect and potentially reject applications automatically for their use of AI. You should always check the organisation's own policies on AI to avoid having your application rejected.

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If you plan on using AI to support you in your applications, you should make sure that you understand how to write and structure these documents and what employers expect to see from your examples and experiences… don’t just use AI to write it for you (employers will see through it, and it won’t reflect well on you…)

Using GenAI in job applications

If you do choose to use Generative AI in applications, we recommend using it for the following:

• analysing the job advert for keywords and skills the organisation is looking for
• comparing elements of your CV to a job advert
• making specific suggestions on how to improve your application
• helping to structure your application answers
• conducting research into an organisation
• asking for suggestions on your CV structure
• considering which skills or competencies you need to consider when preparing examples for interviews

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See here for how to create effective prompts within AI for improving a CV or cover letter

Do’s and Don'ts of using GenAI

DON'T copy and paste text out of AI generators - AI isn’t a replacement for your voice, its output can seem formulaic or unrealistic and recruiters will spot this and may think you have not put in effort or thought, and may question whether you have genuine enthusiasm for the job.

DON'T put private information into an AI generator - there’s no need to input your name, contact information, addresses or other personal information which would be processed and stored indefinitely inside the AI generator.

DO use effective prompts to get the best answers - knowing how to get the best response from your question or ‘prompt’ is crucial and is covered in the next sections on this page.

DO repeat the prompt process and develop the answers - don’t just necessarily take the first response and use it, you can improve the results by building on the responses a few times.

DO check the output for truth - AI is not 100% accurate or reliable. It could embellish on your achievements or make up facts. Make sure you only include truthful information about yourself and check any facts before including them.

DO use our application support pages - Trust and use our guidance whatever stage you are at and use AI as a tool to support you through each step where appropriate.

DO ensure you follow the recruiter’s guidance carefully regarding the use of Generative AI. Some employers may automatically reject applications if this isn’t followed.

Can you spot the AI generated CV?

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Take a look at the following CVs, as if you are an employer recruiting for a role.

Can you spot which CVs have been made using AI? What makes you think they’ve used AI?

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• CV example 1
• CV example 2
• CV example 3

What do some of our employers think about AI use in applications?

“Recruiters are looking for honest, truthful and authentic submissions that give them a genuine understanding of what you can do. If the recruiter has doubts about your ability or concerns that your submission is not your own, they may reject your application. It is worth being aware that there are also AI tools that check whether AI has been used!”

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Harriet Fisher, Learning and Development Manager at Public Practice

“As an employer and an early careers recruiter my advice is to use AI sparingly and cleverly. It's very easy at the moment to spot a cover letter that has been crafted using AI – they are too perfectly written, the same sentences and phrases appear, they tell you how wonderful your company is but without backing up with reasons why and above all, they are so deeply impersonal”

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Mark Windsor, Talent & Development Manager at Lambert Smith Hampton

Resilience

About 50% of applications for each graduate role are rejected. On average, there are 50 applications for each post...so, it’s not sensible to apply for 1 role, but not sensible to spread yourself too thin either

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• Start searching sooner rather than later to stay motivated and not run out of time
• Schedule time to research - put it in your diary. Maybe once you’ve had the Employability Newsletter for the week?
• Save time by applying for positions that are a good fit and don’t bother sending in a bad application - quality over quantity
• Keep track of what you’re applying for - making a spreadsheet of what you’ve applied to: organisation, job title, reference number, salary details, closing date
• Know what’s in your control and what’s not - can’t control who else applies for the position, but you can make your application the best it can be
• Find work or activities that focus on your strengths
• Prioritise your wellbeing - you can’t pour from an empty cup. Eating well, taking care of your body by exercising, and staying on top of chores and other tasks that improve your living environment.
• Take time out to reflect

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mySkills - a tool for reflection

To help you recognise and reflect on your skills development and be able to articulate your strengths to others, including potential employers, the University of Sheffield has created mySkills, a unique online personal development tool.

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Once you’ve created your profile and set goals, start to build a record of your experiences.

• Reflect on skills developed during your course, extra-curricular activities, work experiences or life in general.
• Use the simple log in My development experiences to record how you used your skills.
• Note how you felt or what you might do differently next time.
• Use this portfolio to help you write your CV, answer tricky application form questions, prepare for interviews or write reflective assignments on your course.

International students - Visas

As an international student, you might need to apply for a visa if you wish to stay in the UK to work after your studies - see here for advice on working in the UK after your studies.

• Don’t assume an employer knows about the Graduate Visa, if you’re intending to apply for this. Tell the employer before you apply for a role - share information with them about what this visa means.
• Skilled Worker visa information
• Attend visa information sessions throughout the year. We’ll share these in the Employability Newsletter.

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We can’t advise you on any visa queries - please contact the International Student Support Advice and Compliance (ISSAC) team.

Specific tips for different sectors

See the below links for specific advice, profiles and resources for working in each sector:

• Working in Planning
• Working in Urban Design
• Working in Real Estate or Housing
• Working in International Development
• Working in GIS
• Other areas

Resources

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Weekly Employability Newsletter (sent to your student email) Links to jobs, work experience and volunteer opportunities, events across the department, University and externally

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Bookable appointments with PEER team for career advice, CV and cover letter support, placement support, job interview/assessment centre help

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Geography and Planning Employability Resources

A range of resources to support you with career planning, application and interview resources, placements, building networks, getting involved with professional bodies and other organisations etc

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Careers & Employability Service

CAREERS FAIR SLIDE

More employers have been added this week!

Cornerstone - Social Sciences Employability Hub @cornerstone_uos

Call in and meet us any time (Ground floor of the Wave building, next to reception)

Look out for Emails from Ellen Osborne about our events

Intro Week - call in and see us any time - Prizes to be won!

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A drop-in service from 10am-3pm Monday-Friday -

run by students, for students:

• access placement and internship opportunities
• explore career options
• develop your skills for successful applications
• signposting to careers and employability support around the university and beyond

Events run by the Faculty or your department. For example:

• ‘Meet the professionals’ talks and informal networking with alumni and employers
• Industry challenge events to give you insight and experience of a sector
• Workshops to develop your application skills

We’ll email you about each event during the year

Events

Check the weekly Employability Newsletter for any updates on events, employer/organisation talks and opportunities (this is emailed to you on a Monday)��You can check Career Connect for central events, as well as the Cornerstone pages.

Carter Jonas event this Wednesday, RTPI young planners event on 30th October!��Check out How to Use Generative AI Effectively for Job Applications | Thursday 31st October. This session will explore relevant themes from today's session

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Next session and any questions?

Monday 11th November, 10am

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How to get hired! - Interviews and assessment centres

Please check your timetable for rooms and changes!

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Please feel free to ask any questions in the remaining time.

If you want any further help or advice after today please contact us on gpl-employability@sheffield.ac.uk

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