Application & interview tips

Application tips

There are many ways to write an application. We have put together some guidelines you can follow to help in constructing your Alfred Health application.

Always ensure your application reflects you honestly.

Cover Letter

Your cover letter is the first impression you give potential employers. This is your chance to get their attention and sell your qualities and experience.

Here are some points to make your application stand out:

• Keep your cover letter to one page as it should entice the hiring manager to read about you further.
• Tailor your cover letter to the organisation and the position. By showing your knowledge and understanding of the role, the hiring manager is likely to take a greater interest.
• Briefly describe your experience for one or two of the key selection criteria from the position description.
• Make sure you correct grammar and spelling mistakes.
• Let the reader know the best way to contact you to arrange an interview.

Cover letters can be considered as mini job applications. Carefully construct your letter, the better it reads the better chance of gaining an interview.

Resume

Keep the following points in mind when you prepare your resume:

• The person reading your resume may be reading many other resumes. Be clear and concise, so they can skim read to get an accurate picture of your skills very quickly.
• You will need to back up any claims you make in your resume if you are invited to interview.
• Try to keep your resume between two and four pages.
• Typing mistakes will be noticed. Have someone else read through your resume before you send it.
• Don't use complicated or stylish fonts. The content of your resume is what counts.

Resume content

A good introduction is a brief profile giving the reader a summary of your professional career and your strengths.

Contact details

Your contact details should be at the top of the page. Details include name, address, phone number, mobile phone and your personal email address.

You do not need to attach a photograph or give personal details such as age, marital status or hobbies. They are not relevant and do not comply with our equal opportunity policy.

Career history

After the introduction, you should begin to outline your career:

• Your career history should be in chronological order focusing on the most recent role first and working back stating months and years to identify time spent in a role.
• Bullet points make your resume much easier for read.
• Spend more time on your more recent roles and less on your earliest roles. Don't leave any gaps. If you travelled for six months, say so.
• If you have experience in specific areas you should list these together with your responsibilities.
• It's also a good idea to list what you consider to be significant accomplishments or achievements.

Description of employer

If the organisations you have worked for may not be well known, give a description of the business to provide a context for your experience.

Education and training

Start with your highest qualification first. This section can cover university, TAFE training, industry courses, in-house courses and any other professional training.

Professional memberships

Include only those relevant to your career as well as an indication of how active you are in the organisation.

Referees

Details of professional referees include, names, the relationship to you and work phone numbers. These will be requested on application.

Interview tips

When you are interviewed for a position at Alfred Health, we try to make your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

We understand that you can be nervous and sometimes find it hard to be yourself.

Here are some tips on preparing for an interview and what to expect so you can excel!

Preparation

• Dress appropriately for the interview. Neat and smart attire is recommended.
• Allow plenty of time to get to the interview and keep the details handy in case you need to contact us.
• Do some research on the organisation and department offering you the interview.
• Read the position description before the interview. The interview is your chance to ask any questions about the role and what is written in the position description.
• If you did not provide referee details on your original application, bring these details to interview.
• Body language is important. Remember to smile, make eye contact and sit forward in your chair.

What to expect at the interview

• The interview is a great opportunity to find out whether the organisation and role is the right fit for you.
• Interviews usually consist of 2 to 3 people and are 30 minutes to an hour in duration.
• You should be advised at the end of the interview when you will be informed of the outcome

Behavioural interview questions

• The interview panel will focus on the key selection criteria outlined in the position description and generally use behavioural interview questions.
• This means that the interview panel will be looking for specific work related examples to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and experience.
• Your responses should be specific and detailed, briefly describing the situation or task, what specific action you took, and the result (STAR).
• The panel will understand that it can be difficult in an interview situation to always remember the perfect example when answering a behavioural based question.
• Take your time to answer the questions and utilise any notes or your resume to assist you.