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CANDIDATE RESOURCE CENTRE
Preparing for a job change or interview - with
AXESS, or even with someone else? We have produced
some guidance to help you.
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here
Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) has only one purpose
- to get you an interview with the company of
your choice. It is a sales document, selling you,
and it has to be easy for your customer to use.
There are three areas to consider when reviewing
or developing your CV:
- Structure
- Content
- Presentation
Structure
Within the pharmaceutical industry a chronological
CV is the norm, and most recruiting managers will
expect to see your details presented in this way.
The CV should be kept short, ideally no more than
two pages, with a third page of supporting information
such as publications if necessary.
Most CVs should follow the same general format,
and keeping to this will make your CV easier to
use. If recruiters have to search hard for the
information they want, you have less chance of
getting through. Many CVs are initially screened
for fit, so ensure that you present the information
in a way that they can use it.
The following format is fairly standard:
- Name
- Brief synopsis of experience and career
aims
- Personal details
- Education
- Employment
- Specific skills
- Additional information
Content
Name - Use the name that you are
known by, rather than your given name, if different.
Brief synopsis of experience and career aims
- This should be no more than about four lines,
and should give the reader an immediate understanding
of where you are now, your major personal characteristics
and skills, and what you are hoping to achieve
longer term. This is often written in the third
person.
For example:
A well qualified clinical research associate with
over 4 years experience working in the CRO sector.
Therapeutic expertise includes CNS, oncology and
urology. Excellent organisational and communication
skills. Now looking to move into a line management
position within a pharmaceutical company.
Personal details - This should include
your home address, home and mobile telephone numbers,
e-mail address, date of birth, nationality, and
marital status.
Education - Education & Qualifications
should be presented in reverse chronological order,
and should clearly state the name of each qualification,
the establishment, and the relevant dates. If
you have a good degree grade, add it in, otherwise
leave the grade out. Only include A-Level qualifications
or lower if you are a new graduate.
Employment - This should be presented in
reverse chronological order, with the greatest
amount of information given for the most recent
or current position. If you have been promoted
a number of times within the same organisation,
show each job separately but under the overall
banner of the company - recruiters like to see
stability.
Identify your major achievements in each role,
and any specific benefits you have given to the
company. Use these points as examples of your
"transferable skills". Do not give reasons
for leaving, as you will have ample opportunity
to discuss this at interview.
Show job changes running in smooth chronological
sequence with no overlapping dates, but if there
are gaps in your employment explain them, e.g.
Career break to go travelling. If you have been
in employment for some time, your earlier experience
becomes rather less relevant, and should therefore
be edited down to one or two lines per company.
Specific skills - The content and size
of this area will depend on the specialisation
in which you are working. You should identify
any particular IT skills, therapeutic expertise,
management experience or relevant training.
Additional information - This section allows
you to add information on interests and non-work
related achievements. It is also a good place
to cover language skills, or international experience
if this is not covered in the education or employment
sections.
If you have voluntary work or charitable achievements,
add them here. For example, 'Raised £3,000
for the charity Mencap by running in the London
Marathon', 'Successfully completed the Duke of
Edinburgh Gold Award', or "School Governor".
These can be excellent talking points at interview,
and allow you another opportunity to present your
skills and attributes eg organisational ability.
Interests should be concise: 'amateur dramatics'
conveys as much useful information to the reader
as a description of your last starring role. Humour
is not always a good idea at this point. Some
people find it irritating and you are not looking
to be remembered for the wrong reasons.
Presentation
When people are reviewing CVs they tend
not to notice if a CV is particularly well presented,
but they definitely remember if it is presented
badly.
- Keep the document as plain as possible
- Avoid borders, colour, fancy graphics or
photographs
- Be consistent with your formatting, particularly
if you are applying for a job which requires
a good eye for detail like CRA or Data Manager
- Use the spell and grammar checkers on your
PC, or the services of a reliable friend
- Keep to a simple typeface such as Arial
or Times New Roman, and use a readable font
size (eg. 12pt.)
- If sending hard copy use high quality paper
- Don't photocopy - print your CV each time
- Use an A4 envelope so that it does not
need to be folded
- Don't bind your CV or put in a folder.
Folders are discarded, and binding makes CV's
difficult to scan and store
- If sending electronically, attach as a
Word document to ensure that the formatting
is not corrupted
Having built a generic CV, try to tailor it for
each specific job, as the most relevant aspects
of your career need to be highlighted. You are
looking to highlight the skills outlined in the
job advertisement. Always make sure that you keep
a copy of each tailored CV to take with you to
any potential interview.
Whether sending your CV electronically or by mail
produce a short tailored covering letter or e-mail.
This is the first chance that the Agency or Recruiting
Manager has to make a judgement on your application.
Don't waste it.
Use the opportunity of the covering letter to
highlight your key skills, and to show how well
you match the brief for the role. This will make
the recruiter's job easier and will increase your
likelihood of success. Reflect back some of the
wording in the advert and demonstrate understanding
of the role and the company
The letter needs to contain the following elements:
- Job reference number or job requirement
(e.g. Enquiry for the Position of Statistician)
- Introductory paragraph - who you are, what
experience you have
- Why you are applying for the role, including
examples of what you can bring to the job
should you get it
- Follow-up and timescale - always suggest
that you will call to check the progress of
your application, and then do it
The letter should be on a single side of A4, and
if sent hard copy, should be on the same type
of paper as the CV. It should always be typed
unless the advert specifically states otherwise.
Use a standard letter format with the same typeface
as the CV.
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| Preparing for an interview |
Once you have secured an interview you should
invest some time and effort in preparation.
- Ask about the likely interview structure
- who will take part, and their role within
the business. A good agency should be able
to tell you this. Certainly at AXESS will
give you full briefing for interviews that
we have arranged.
- Research the company. Check the website
for the latest financial and scientific results
and keep up-to-date with recent news items.
- Who do you know that would have inside
information about the company? Find out what
the culture is like.
- From the job description and advert, assess
the skills that the interviewer will be looking
for at the interview. Identify past situations
that show you have these skills. Practice
summarising these concisely. Experiences outside
the workplace can be equally valid.
- Ensure that you have adequate directions
to the company and understand the route you
are going to take. If you are driving, check
that there will be parking on site.
- It is useful to practice the answers to
frequently asked questions. Ask a friend to
role play - or do it in front of a mirror.
Types of Interview
There are many different types of interview,
but within the pharmaceutical industry the usual
types are:
- Initial Telephone Screening
- Informal
- Technical
- Human Resources
There may be multiple interviews, with some sequentially
during the same day. You should make the same
preparations for informal or telephone interviews
as you would for a more formal meeting - if you
don't come across well you may not get another
chance. For telephone interviews ensure that you
are in a quiet place, sitting at a desk so that
you can write, and that you will not be disturbed.
If possible do not have telephone interviews on
a mobile phone.
Some interviews include an element of testing.
This can range from a fairly straightforward written
test examining your understanding of a topic,
to full assessment centres where you may be observed
in group situations. In some cases you made be
asked to prepare a presentation. Personality profiles
are still relatively common, but seem to have
become less prevalent in recent years. For all
tests ask for feedback.
Personal Presentation
The dress code for interviews has become
much more difficult since companies started adopting
a smart casual dress code. However, the pharmaceutical
industry is relatively conservative compared with
some other sectors, and it is usually safe to
assume that business dress is most appropriate
for interviews.
- Men should wear suits and ties, and women
should wear suits or smart jackets. Trouser
suits are fine, but skirts should not be too
short
- For both, shoes should be dark and polished,
and men should wear dark socks
- Jewellery should be kept to a minimum,
and perfume and aftershave toned down
- Take a coat and umbrella even if driving.
Many pharmaceutical companies have large car
parks but limited visitor parking, so you
could end up walking some distance
- You should take with you your CV, covering
letter, invitation to the interview and a
copy of the advert. All this is best contained
in a document wallet or briefcase
- You should aim to arrive with a reasonable
amount of time to spare (generally at least
15 minutes)
- Always be polite and friendly to the receptionist
and secretaries, even if you are made to wait.
Interviewers often ask their opinion about
candidates
During the Interview
- When you meet the interviewer your handshake
should be firm but not gripping
- If there are others present whom you were
not expecting, check out who they are and
what they do. You may want to answer questions
differently if they are a technical expert,
for example
- Put your relevant papers on the table,
with a pen, and then try not to touch them
again until it is time to make some notes
- Sit upright, as this will make you come
across as more assertive
- Maintain correct eye contact during an
interview. You would generally be expected
to have direct eye contact for about 70% of
the time. Any more and you can seem aggressive,
much less and you appear evasive
- Don't worry about the interviewer taking
notes. Good note taking is vital to the eventual
outcome of the interview, as most people's
memories are not good enough to remember the
details later
Frequently Asked Questions
Most interview questions are designed to identify
experience, competence and interpersonal abilities.
Usually the interviewer will ask you a few simple
questions about your CV to break the ice, and
then move on to the more taxing questions. Good
interviewers will also use your answers to generate
supplementary questions to get what they need,
rather than just reading down a list.
It is always best to be prepared for the nervous
interviewer. Some people ask closed questions
and don't follow up, which can leave you with
a limited chance to get yourself across. In these
circumstances always expand upon your answers
and make sure that the information you wanted
to impart about yourself has been aired.
You should prepare and practice some responses
to these common questions:
- What are your strengths & weaknesses?
- What has been your most challenging management
situation?
- How would your staff/peers describe your
management style?
- How do you manage your time effectively?
- What has been your greatest organisational
challenge?
- How do you deal with difficult people?
- What is your greatest achievement?
- Why are you leaving your current role?
- Why should we employ you for this role?
At the end of most interviews you will be given
the opportunity to ask some questions. Always
have a list prepared to indicate that you are
interested in the position. For example, at an
interview for a commercial role you should ask
informed questions about the business, for clinical
positions you could ask about the clinical research
programme. At the early stages avoid asking about
terms and conditions or remuneration.
Ask if you have the skills that they are looking
for. If they suggest that you are weak in a particular
area, you then have the opportunity to offer additional
information that could get you through to the
next round.
Before you leave, get an understanding of the
process, including where you are now, what will
happen next and over what timeframe. Make sure
that you thank the interviewer for their time,
and say that you look forward to meeting them
again. If you are shown out by a secretary be
friendly and enthusiastic about the position.
It will probably be fed back.
After the Interview
Phone the Agency as soon as possible to
give feedback. If you have any concerns discuss
them with the consultant who can seek clarification
with the company. If you are interested in the
job, make sure that you sound enthusiastic and
keen to proceed to the next stage - the consultant
will convey your enthusiasm to the recruiting
company.
The consultant should be able to give you feedback.
If you are not successful get as much information
as possible about why, so that you can tackle
those issues at your next interview.
At the interview you will have determined the
next steps. If that doesn't happen in the expected
timeframe, chase the consultant.
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