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FLYING START JOB HUNT

Foundation Series Workbook

www.flyingstartjobhunt.co.nz M: 021497211

WELCOME To the Flying Start Job Hunt Programme: The Foundation Series.

We can’t wait to introduce you to the key foundations when you start thinking about your first job.

This workbook accompanies the video series you just signed up for and has space for extra notes at the end. It will help you jot down your ideas and put together a game plan as we walk through the first 4 key sections.

Now, this isn’t something we just dreamed up, this information has been around for years in various forms. But with so much information, we have noticed young people are trying to create answers they think employers want to hear. Be unique with your thinking, answer the questions with YOU in mind, not the employer!

At Flying Start, we’ve been a part of thousands of job applications. After going back and mining the data, meeting with employers big and small, local and international- and then speaking to you: the students, we noticed a few key ingredients that seem to go missing with young people’s applications these days.

We want to help you, after all you don’t know what you don’t know!

Follow along, we put this workbook together with you in mind. It’s time to get you thinking, time to get you ready for the next stage in your life: that first serious job!

Don’t forget once you have filled this workbook out you can send your answers back to us and we will respond with some things for you to consider.

It’s like asking HR for feedback but before you apply…without any consequences for wrong answers!

All the best.

Tim Carrington, Flying Start lead pilot.

[email protected] Facebook: Flying Start Job School


1. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CAREER?

What did you study and what do you hope to do with it?

Why did you choose this career path? Have a good think about this, what made you go this way?

Do you have any role models who work in this career field? Have you spoken to them before?

Quick tip:

Do you think your answers above will be the same as other candidates?

Try and use story as much as possible.

For example, “I choose to do engineering because when I was young I used to sail a lot. A few of the older guys at the boat club were engineers and were always getting stuck in fixing boats, engines and other things. I looked up to them and loved problem solving. My passion for problem solving also had to do with the decision making processes while out sailing. So it was those things that initially got me interested in engineering”

See how this answer is unique to that person. It allows employers to get to know YOU a little better.


2. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS INDUSTRY?

Don’t get this section mixed up with why you choose to study or train in your area. Being able to explain why you picked a certain job in a certain industry is essential to your success. For example, a health employer looking for a Human Resources (HR) Graduate wants to know that person is passionate about the health sector. Simply having a degree in HR won’t get you the job.

Have you thought about which industries you want to work in? Name as many as you can here.

Also note down the larger employers in each of those industries.

Now that you have a list of industries, can you explain why each one of them appeals to you?

Again be unique to you. Saying you like the banking sector because there are lots of different roles is fine, but it’s probably a similar answer to other candidates.


3. WHAT DO YOU OFFER AN EMPLOYER:

Cutting right to it, in most cases an employer does not know you before you apply for the job. Rather have the employer spend hours trying to work you out, why not be very clear what you have to offer them and why they should hire you. The more planning done in this section the better. Make sure you have a look at the job description requirements when you are thinking about each role.

Write down at least three of your greatest selling points. These are the assets you offer an employer. Remember without an example of it then it’s just a statement. You must have examples to prove your points.

What would like to get out of your career? What do you think you would be doing after 3, 5 and 15 years? This is a helpful exercise to help you better understanding of why you’re applying for each job. Employers like to ask graduates or trainees so it’s best to be prepared.

Can you add more of your strengths? And what about your weaknesses. Nobody is perfect and never will be. Think about these points long and hard because they play a big part of your application. They help with your cover letter and just general understanding of who you are.


4. THE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAVE SHAPED WHO YOU ARE TODAY

This last section centres on how well you can recall the special events in your life and the people you have met. Situations and people that have helped shaped you into the person you are today. These form the bulk of your answers in an interview situation.

Rather than trying to think of them on the spot, start thinking about them now. How they affected you and what you learnt/would do differently.

So that you are prepared for questions that potential employers might ask you, at any stage in the job application process, go and research common interview questions and list them below:

Now think about how you would answer those questions using your own life and people experiences so far.

The more planning you do here the more confidence you will have throughout the application process. Just remember that employers will not give you the questions before they ask you.

Can you identify 2–3 difficult situations in your life and how you dealt with them?

Try to think of examples where you learnt the most. What went well and what you would do differently.


SEE WHAT THE FLYING START CREW THINK:Once you’re happy with your answers, send them into the Flying Start Job Hunt team and we will contact you regarding any changes. Once we’re satisfied your answers are clear, and that you also understand the foundation series process, we will then issue you with a certificate and a unique Flying Start number.

FEEDBACK AND REFERRALS:We are really keen to hear what you think of this first foundation series and how we can make improvements as we develop the Flying Start Programme further. If you are able to send us feedback we can then use that to make even better content. Our contact details are at the bottom of each page.

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Thanks again for taking our course. We look forward to hearing about your success and building this flying start programme with you.

All the best

The crew at the Flying Start Job Hunt.

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