EMPLOYABILITY

SKILLS PACK
SUCCESS WITHIN INTERNATIONAL

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 SUCCESS WITHIN INTERNATIONAL
Employability skills pack
© 2016

All rights reserved, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
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recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
copyright owner.

For more information or to book for seminars, speaking

Engagements or ordering additional copies of this book,
Contact:
SUCCESS WITHIN INTERNATIONAL
+234 - 8053246002 | +234 - 7039177319
@sucesswithinint | successwithinint@yahoo.com
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www.successwithinint.com

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 Dedication

This employability skills manual is dedicated

to all partners of Success Within
International.

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 Contents
Dedication 3
Contents 4

INTRODUCTION 5
Chapter One 7
Developing your competitive Advantage
Chapter Two 10
Cover letter and Resume
Chapter Three 16
Interview Skills
Chapter Four 19
Interview questions and Answer

Conclusion

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Introduction
When preparation meets opportunity success is inevitable
-Zig Ziglar

W
hile growing up, my dad used to tell me to study well in school so as to be
great, I could remember he was so interested in my academics to the
extent that I had lesson teachers and I was always being flogged whenever
I performed lower than expectation.

My first bicycle was as a result of my academic performance when I got

double promotion from primary 4 to primary 6. I imbibed these excellence virtue
because I wanted to be great like him and even better, I wanted to drive the latest
car, I wanted to live in a big house and the greatest of all was that I wanted to work
in an oil and gas company.

After my several years of excellence, I realized that my father forgot to tell

me somethings, he forgot to tell me that times will change and the unemployment
rate will increase geometrically. He also forgot to tell me that having first class is
not enough to get a good professional job in my country.

The factors of production have become the factors of regression,

unemployment has become the norm of the society. Students graduates from
school yearly with the mindset of “there is no job”. The frustration of
unemployment has led to many chaos in our society, social violence is seen as a
trade already. The professional jobs available are limited hence it takes more than

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a good degree to secure a good job. Less than 20% of graduates’ secure good jobs
yearly, the competition has been on sporadic increase.

Even with this geometric unemployment rate and on the rise structural
unemployment, I was able to secure two Multinational Jobs immediately after my
postgraduate graduation. How did this happen??? This employability skill manual
will give you hint on how to position yourself positively in the labor market with
good qualifications and also guide you to help secure your dream job.

Below is a chart of what this manual entails.

More than
a degree

Understanding CVs &

Application forms

Finding
Opportunities

Interviews
Skill

SWI President
AJAYI ADEBAYO
+234 - 8053246002
@successbayo
adebayo.ajayi@yahoo.com

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Chapter One
Developing your Competitive Advantage
The illiterate of 21 st century is not those who cannot read and write
but those who cannot learn, unlearn and re-learn

-Avlan Toffler

A
RE YOU UNIQUE?

What makes you unique is the exactly your selling point. Your core
competence is what will distinguish you from other graduates. Is there
any skill that you have that gives you an edge over others?

Skills, talents and gifts should be deployed fully in other to gain command of the
labor market. Whether it’s on a daily basis, monthly or yearly, we all have to sell
ourselves to somebody else. Let’s consider the following points in achieving an
optimum result in respective to our competitive advantage.

 KNOW YOUR VALUE

This is extremely important because when completing an application or attending

a job interview, it is important to know that your value proposition will be tested
for. Hence it is important to know your value in connection to the job you are
applying for. For example, before you buy a mobile phone you will look into what
features the phone has and the price. The same applies when applying for a job –
you need to consider what skills, knowledge and experience you have to offer, their
relationship to the job and how to communicate this to the employer.

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  KNOW YOUR STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS

Personal SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) Analysis is also very
essential for magnetizing your dream job. To start the process of getting to know
your worth write down a list of strengths and weaknesses. These can be anything
which you consider relevant to the job such as your technical skills, qualifications
and employability skills such as communication, teamwork, organization etc.

Once you have finished your list look at the strengths, this will help you know how
to use these strengths and skills to achieve the kind of jobs that match your corer
competence.

By doing this before completing an application or attending an interview, you will

allow yourself to focus on the attributes you have to offer, which will ensure they
are at the forefront of your mind during all stages of the application process.

Your also need to communicate your strengths in the most effective way. Using
THE STAR approach will help you attach your previous success to each skill and
strength.

Networking is also something we need to maximize fully, your ability to effectively

utilize the social media (LinkedIn) can also put you on the positive edge.

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Let’s consider the STAR approach.

S 10% Situation:

How, when, where and with whom?

T 10% Task

Describe the task you were faced with

A 70% Action

What action did you take?

R 10% Result

What result did you achieve?

What experience did you learn from this?

The star approach for SWOT Analysis helps you to gain command of the situation
based on your own competency.

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Chapter Two
Cover Letter and Resume
Your curriculum Vitae is your first contact with your employer, so it requires a lot
of effort. In most organizations recruitment plan your CV is the major determinant,
whether or not you would be invited for interview.

You need to ensure that your CV is amended and updated every time you are
applying for a job so as to merge your skills and experience with the job you are
applying for. The information written on your CV must also be very correct and
descriptive.

There are vital points to consider when writing a good CV because research as
shown that potential employers may take just 20 seconds to make a judgement on
your CV. The key information to be considered are as follows

 Your CV format must have clear headers and make use of bold and italics, to
highlight key information so that employers can pick out relevant
information whilst scanning your CV.
 Do not write ‘Curriculum Vitae’ at the top, use professional email address e.g
Adebayo.ajayi@yahoo.com and (not:prettylion@email.com or
desperatedan@email.com).
 It is advisable that you keep your CV pages for a graduate job to 2 pages–
employers are not interested in lengthy CV’s.
 Your CV should be legible so choose a font such as Arial or Verdana in a font
no less than size 11.
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• Check, re-check and check again your spelling and grammar. If an employer
spots a mistake, it may lead to them questioning the quality of your work – after
all, in their eyes you have had time to ensure your CV is perfect.

• Use bullet points with short, punchy sentences to make sure that all your
information is accessible.

• Don’t undersell your work experience. Any placement, part-time, vacation or

voluntary work is valuable in highlighting transferable skills. Ensure you consider
your achievements and extracurricular activities to give an insight into your
motivation and personality.

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 CV TEMPLATE
The Career Objective or Personal Profile Section allows
you to introduce the reader to your CV, and to you. It
The key modules needs to say “this is who I am, what I have to offer and
section of your CV what I want to look for. “You should ensure that it is no
allows you to more than 3 or 4 lines long, and is tailored towards the
demonstrate to an job you are applying.
employer that you
have the
theoretical
knowledge
required to do the
job.
You do not need to
list every module
you have studied or
the grade. Instead
focus on five or six
that are relevant to
the job.

This section allows

you to go into detail
of the jobs (and
placements) that you
have had that are
directly relevant to
the position you are
applying for. This will
allow you to
demonstrate clear
commitment to an
area of work, the
achievements you
have secured through
it and the progress
you have made in
your career to date.

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This section will
allow you to
address any skills
which are asked for
but are not yet
covered, for
example: IT skill,
languages,
familiarization with
various technical
procedures etc

You can use this

section to help
reinforce your skills
set which has been
discussed above. It
can also allow you to
highlight some more
personal Information
about yourself and
your
interests/personality
and showcase some
achievements you
have acquired which
do not fit easily in to
the structure above.

Unless an employer specifies that you list the names and

contact details of your referees, it is suffice to write
“references available on request.”

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 COVER LETTER
It is essential to attach a cover letter/motivation letter, outlining the role you are
applying for and why you feel you are suitable. A cover letter should be no more
than one page of A4. A cover letter highlights to employer that you have the
necessary skills and experience needed for the jobs you are applying for. The
following are essential components of a good cover letter and CV.

 It’s important that your CV and cover letter are in the same format. When
posting your application both your CV and the cover letter should be printed
on the same paper.
 When emailing your CV and cover letter use a PDF to ensure the copy sent is
in the format you intend the reader to view. To ensure your email is not
marked as ‘spam’ ensure you clearly write in the subject line why you are
making contact alongside a brief introduction in the body of the email.
 Personalize your application by identifying the name of the person
responsible for recruitment (check online or call directly and ask!) and
address your email/letter to them. Applications that are addressed ‘Dear
Sir/Madam’ may not be directed to the appropriate person.

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COVER LETTER TEMPLATE

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Chapter Three
Interview Skills
An employer will invite you for an interview because they think that you may be
the candidate that they are looking for. It is therefore expedient you sell yourself
and confirm that they are right. Remember, the recruitment process is a
competition therefore it is important that you have thoroughly researched the
company, their competitors and the industry sector they operate in.

Make sure you look sharp, professional and competent. And make sure you arrive
early before the interview commences.

The interview is an opportunity to present your skills, experience, personality and

suitability, whilst giving you the chance to evaluate the company and the job. The
interview process maybe challenging but employers don’t expect perfection so try
to relax, be yourself and enjoy the experience.

Interview types vary between organizations. Some graduate recruiters initially

have telephone interviews to ‘screen’ a high number of candidates. Smaller
companies may have a one-off one interview, however more likely, in larger
organizations, a Panel Interview will be held. The final stage may be an
Assessment Centre which will allow employers to assess your skills directly.

Preparation is key! When invited to interview ensure you are aware of all
appropriate details, such as location and timing, in advance. Refresh yourself on

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the position, the organization and the application you submitted. Consider the
questions you may be asked and think of questions you may wish to ask.

Make sure that you prepare your answers, referring to the job description and
your application, to support your responses.
It’s OK to be nervous, interviewers are human and should quickly put you at ease.
They may push you to get the best out of you so be prepared to voice opinions
and to analyze yourself.
Listen and give relevant answers not necessarily those you have pre-prepared.
Apply the STAR approach to your responses and if you don’t understand a
question or need time to think, say so, don’t assume! Finally, thank the
interviewers for their time. What employers DON’T want you to do is to
underestimate your skills and abilities, or argue with them. They don’t want to
hear about your weaknesses unless you provide evidence of how you plan on
addressing them.
Asking questions at interview is an important part of the interview decision
process so think ahead and prepare. Genuinely ask yourself ‘Do you have all the
information you need to make a decision about whether this is the job for you?’
Ask questions which demonstrate that you are already thinking about your
performance or development in the job should you be offered the position.
After the interview, and whatever the outcome, treat it as a learning experience
and reflect on your performance. Were you uncomfortable with, or unprepared,
for any questions? Note down any difficult questions you struggled with. It is
worth aiming to get feedback from an employer, not all will supply this, but some
are very happy to do so and, whether positive or negative, the feedback will
hopefully be constructive for future interviews.
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The typical structure of an interview begins with a short introduction by those
interviewing, stating who they are and the format of the interview that will take
place. The middle part of the interview typically lasts around 30-45 mins and
consists of:

Structure of an Interview
The interviewer will assess skills, achievements, experience
Can you do the
and learning potential by asking questions on your work
job?
experiences and studies.
Here, the interviewer is interested in finding out more about
Will you do the
your motivation to do the job, interest in the position,
job?
company and industry.
They will want to find out more about your work ethic and
outside influences by asking you questions on projects you
have been involved in at university and extracurricular
activities.
The interviewer is interested in learning more about your
Will you fit the
communication style, attitude, personality, values, work
organization?
style and appearance to better understand how you will fit
in with the organization.

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Chapter Four
Interview Questions and Answers
You don’t have a second chance for your first Impression

-David Oyedepo

Some interview questions and possible answers are as follows;

1. Tell me about yourself:
The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement
prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-
related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and
jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with
the item farthest back and work up to the present.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with
management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If
you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a
positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other
forward-looking reasons.
3. Do you consider yourself successful?
You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good ex-planation is that
you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.

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4. What do co-workers say about you?
Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a
paraphrase will work. Kate Success, a co-worker at Gate Company, always said I
was the hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful as kate having said
it at the interview herself.
5. What do you know about this organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the
interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the
current issues and who are the major players?
6. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of
activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones
handy to mention.
7. Why do you want to work for this organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you
have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily
be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.
8. Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect
your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to
mention a friend only if they are well thought of.
9. What kind of salary do you need?
A loaded question. Don’t be in a haste to answer this. So, relax. Instead, say
something like, that’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position?

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In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can
depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.
10. Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that
show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good
evidence of your team attitude.
11. Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any
other candidates to make a comparison.
12. Tell me about a suggestion you have made
Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was
then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real
plus.
13. What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that
irritates you.
A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.
14. What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples:
Your ability to prioritize, your problem-solving skills, your ability to work under
pressure,
Your ability to focus on projects, your professional expertise, your leadership skills,
your positive attitude.
15. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

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16. What are you looking for in a job?
Career Fulfilment and growth
17. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or
lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.
18. What is more important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better
answer.
19. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities:
Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative,
Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver.
20. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that
relates to the type of position applied for.
21. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?
Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job
more than this one.
22. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:
Challenge, Achievement, Recognition
23. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
This is up to you. Be totally honest.
24. How would you know you were successful on this job?

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Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet
them. Your outcomes are a success. Your boss tell you that you are successful.
25. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep
ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.
26. Describe your management style.
The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the
situation, instead of one size fits all.
27. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small,
well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be
working too far ahead of time
28. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the
position.
29. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that
up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.
30. What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair,
loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these
traits.
31. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute be-tween others.
Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the
dispute you settled.

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32. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.
33. Describe your work ethic.
Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job
done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.
34. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show
acceptance and no negative feelings.
35. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.
Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.
36. Do you have any questions for me?
Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an
asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? What
type of projects will I be able to assist on?

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