The Monster Debate

Each issue we get two professionals to debate a key question and share their views with you. But it's an online debate without the two protagonists meeting! In our inaugural Monster Graduates issue we have invited Stephen Isherwood, from Graduate Recruitment at Ernst & Young, and Alexandra Hemingway, a Careers Adviser at University of Surrey University, to debate the following question:

Getting the first interview can feel like a lottery. What range of actions and initiatives can graduates take to improve their chances?

Stephen: Over 16,000 people apply each year for our vacancies and academic performance is important to us as most people who join us will complete a professional qualification. Therefore we expect candidates to be on track for a 2.1 and have a minimum of 300 UCAS points (we ask to see original certificates).

Having said that, what you study is less important and we are just as likely to recruit a History or Engineering student as an Economics or Finance graduate.

Equally important are the wider skills that candidates have to offer. We focus on an individual's drive and ambition, their interest in business and career path chosen, plus an ability to communicate and work in teams. Our selection process is designed to fairly assess these attributes and a number of tools are used to ensure we accurately assess an individual's ability and suitability to the role they have applied for. All stages in the process are important and unless candidates pass the application process they will not be invited for an interview. That means to be invited to an assessment centre a candidate must be successful at first interview. All candidates who pass the assessment centre are made an offer.

As a matter of fact, a number of people make the mistake in thinking that a relevant summer internship is essential to be able to apply to Ernst & Young. A number of our applicants do have some experience but it is more important that candidates demonstrate a real interest in business and the role applied for as well as achieving more than just academic success.

Stephen Isherwood
Senior Manager within Graduate Recruitment at Ernst & Young LLP, responsible for candidate attraction.

Qualifications: Business Studies degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management.

Alexandra: Having been a careers adviser for over eight years in various universities as well as working in schools and colleges before moving into Higher Education, I feel I've got quite an insight into this!

It may be a cliché, but 'be yourself' is still great advice when it comes to selection and recruitment. The trick is in making sure you present your best side. Here's how to convince employers that you should be on their interview shortlist.

Be strategic. Everyone should aim high, but it's only worth applying for jobs you really want, because it takes time to put together a good application. Check for deadlines and prioritise according to your needs and preferences. Maybe there are two great jobs on offer, but their deadlines clash with your dissertation? Look at the pros and cons of each, then decide which is really best for you and go for it. Be honest with yourself - if you are a long way from meeting the criteria for the ideal candidate, your time will be better spent on one really strong application for the job you're more likely to get than two half-hearted attempts that won't hit the target.

Be positive. Every piece of information you give should be positive. When you're planning your application, think about all your strengths, achievements, skills and personal qualities. Decide what impression you hope to create and weave keywords to reflect that into your CV, letter or form. Even if you're trying to get round a weakness, be sure to focus on how you've addressed it and what kind of improvements you've made – no apologies, just progress.

Be relevant. A common complaint from employers is that applicants don't show their understanding of the role or of the organisation. Doing your research and analysing the job information will help you to prove that you know what they're all about. Choose examples that match the company's priorities and emphasize your best points by including more detail or placing them in a prominent place. If you've got a unique selling point that will help you get the job, mention it in page one of your CV so the reader can find it quickly.

Be specific. Many application forms include competency questions, where you're invited to "describe a time when you..." This really means just give one example and get right down to the detail. Be a STAR and structure your answer: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Briefly set the context with the situation and task and then give them all you've got in the action. The employer needs to know what steps you took and why. Every story needs a happy ending, even in a job application. Use concrete terms to describe the outcome of your efforts. Perhaps you can give percentages, figures or quote some of the feedback you received?

Be careful. Last but not least, I cannot emphasise enough the need to check your work carefully before you seal the envelope or click 'send.' Errors can slip in so easily - I've even seen someone spell their own name wrong! There is no doubt that even a single mistake could send your application into the bin. When you look on screen, you'll probably see what you THINK you've typed instead of what's really there. Read the finished document aloud to yourself, get a friend to check over it and use spellcheck to help you prove that your attention to detail is as good as you say it is.

Alexandra Hemingway
Careers Adviser, University of Surrey

Qualifications: BA (Hons), Dip CG. (Dip CG = Diploma in Careers Guidance)