Getting Ready to Apply & Interview Tips

Resume

Your resume is a professional document reflecting your career goals, educational study and work history. It’s a good idea to keep your resume up to date as you change positions, responsibilities and achievements, so you are always ready to apply for that amazing next step in your career. By keeping your resume fresh with your latest achievements, you are well prepared to share at interview.

Our Talent Acquisition team are looking for resumes that are accurate, succinct and tell us a bit about your experience, skills and aspirations. Using a spell-checker is a great way to ensure your digital presentation reflects a good attention to detail and maintaining your resume in Word format allows you to edit as you progress in your career.

Resume Checklist:

  • Name
  • Contact details (a phone number or email address as a minimum)
  • Summary of strengths/career objectives
  • Employment History (start with current then work back) and include Position Title, Dates of Employment, Key Responsibilities and Achievements
  • Educational and Training details
  • Technical capabilities (e.g. software used and level of competency)
  • Any professional memberships or technical licences
  • Hobbies and interests including volunteer experience
  • Referees (you may wish to list or leave as "details provided on request")

Interview Tips

Face to Face Interviews

Remember when you go to your interview, not only are you being assessed for the role you are applying for, but you are also assessing whether the company and role are a good fit for you. The interview is a great opportunity to meet your prospective manager and explore your adaptability to the role and culture.

It is important to us that both the role and company are a good fit for you. Ensure that you have read through the advertisement carefully and be confident that your skills and abilities match the job requirements. Research as much as you can about the role and the company. You can find out more about Officeworks by heading to our website at https://www.officeworks.com.au, following the Officeworks LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/officeworks), and by visiting our stores.

Be confident in who you are and what you have to offer. Consider your adaptability to the role and be clear on your achievements. Making notes in advance is a great way to prepare yourself and commit to memory some key points about you and what you can contribute to your next role.

Ensure what you wear on the day presents the image you want to get across. Basic hygiene and grooming are essential to make a positive impression.

The face-to-face interview should take no more than 1 hour. Be sure of the interview time, date and location and arrange your day to ensure you arrive slightly ahead of time. If possible, leave your phone in the car or switch it off prior to the interview.

Be friendly, smile and firmly shake the interviewer’s hand.  Maintain good eye contact and listen (really listen) to the questions being asked. A carefully considered answer is likely to be well received.

During the interview (usually towards the end), you will have the opportunity to ask questions. Have 2-3 questions ready if those topics haven't been covered already.

Thank the interviewer/s for their time and leave with a smile and firm handshake. 

Virtual Interviews

Make sure that you are somewhere quiet and that all pets, housemates and children are elsewhere and aware you are attending an interview.

Internet connections can be temperamental so make sure your connection is stable (e.g. switch off anything that may interfere with the connection)

Remove all distractions – have social media, emails and calendars closed and make sure your phone is on "Do not Disturb" or silent. 

Familiarise yourself with the instructions for connecting to WebEx and/or watch some YouTube videos to familiarise yourself with the system.

Dress professionally, even if you are at home, from top to toe.

Have a pen, paper and your list of questions ready.

Be expressive, use head nods and hand gestures to show you are engaged in the conversation.

Interview Tips in a nutshell

  • Review job advertisement/description
  • Research Officeworks
  • Prepare - skills, achievements, career objectives
  • Personal presentation
  • Arrive on time/early
  • Friendly, personable approach
  • Listen to questions
  • Think of questions you would like to ask (2-3)
  • Thank you

References Checks

Reference checks are a great way for our Hiring Leaders to understand more about the way you work and your achievements. We can 'see' you through the lens of a prior/current manager who can provide a clear view on your time spent reporting to them.

If you progress to reference check following your interviews, we will ask you for the names and contact details of two managers to whom you have reported directly. At that time, we would suggest you advise your referees to expect our call.