Career Resources
They key to a successful career is thorough preparation. Odyssey has a wealth of experience dealing with a variety of international health care providers and systems and is delighted to be able to pass this information on to candidates. We offer advice on CV preparation, interviews, immigration and licensure.
Curriculum Vitae
Your CV is your principal marketing tool. Employers and recruiters spend less than a minute reading a CV before deciding to keep or delete it. It is therefore essential that your CV is well presented in an appropriate format. Please review our tips and CV templates to assist you in preparing your job applications and get in touch if you need any assistance.
- Use MS Word or other word processing application as some soft ware systems which are used by recruiters and HR departments to read CVs and extract data do not read pdf and other files.
- Use an easily readable font eg. arial, Times New Roman, Calibri
- Avoid tables, borders and shading as these do not come out well in photocopies
- Keep referee details on a separate page otherwise the employer may call referees directly without your knowledge.
- An average length of 3-4 pages is suitable for most posts.
- Large lists of publications and presentations should be placed in an appendix.
- Resumes for the Middle East and Far East need to contain more detailed information under the headings of personal details, training, experience and scope of practice then those destined for other regions. Please refer to our templates for examples.
- Resist the temptation to send the same CV for every job. Review the job descriptions and skill requirements for each position and amend your CV accordingly.
- Ensure that dates of graduations, certifications, licensure and employment are accurate
- Any gaps in employment longer than 1 month should be explained.
Interview
Interviews may be conducted by telephone, teleconference, videoconference or on site in person. With telephone and videolink interviews, there may be major time and geographical differences between the candidate and the interview panel.
- Research the prospective employer and know the basics about the organisation, its services and culture.
- Dress conservatively for personal interviews.
- Select a comfortable and quiet environment for telephone interviews.
- Identify and prepare answers to likely questions.
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
- Brief your referees about the positions for which you have applied.
- Request any further information you require about the organisation / department and the scope of practice of the position sought.
- Ask about the next step in the process and don’t be discouraged if a job offer is not made at this stage or salary expectations not discussed.
- Ask if there is anything else you can provide such as additional references, operating log books or details of publications.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Concentrate on 5 key strengths and ensure that they are a requirement of the job for which you are interviewing. Illustrate these by providing examples. Minimise your weaknesses but mention one. Avoid personal qualities and concentrate on professional attributes. Explain how you work to overcome your weaknesses.
- Tell me about yourself.
- The interviewer is generally looking for information on a professional rather than a personal level. Provide a synopsis of career to date.
- Why should we hire you/what can you offer our organisation?
- What is your USP (Unique Selling Point)? This will require an assessment of your qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills and attributes. Focus on the future, not the past and discuss what qualities you can bring to this new position.
- Why do you want to work for our organisation?
- The interviewer is looking for an answer that indicates you have given this some thought and are not just sending out resumes because there is an opening. Conducting research into the organisation will assist you with responses.
- What are your current responsibilities?
- Summarise the key responsibilities and procedures performed in your current role with an emphasis on the key skills which will be required in your new job.
- What are your goals?
- Confine the discussion to professional goals and not personal ones. Select realistic goals which are attainable in the short/intermediate term. Avoid locking yourself into the distant future.
- Why do you want to leave your current position?
- Focus on what you want in your next job and avoid talking about issues in your current position. Do not criticise your current employer.
- When are you most satisfied in a job?
- The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. You can relate an example of a previous job or project which you enjoyed and which illustrates your motivational factors.
- Tell me about a time when...
- Interviewers often ask for examples of on the job experiences. This technique uses your past experiences and behaviours as an indicator of your future success. Typical examples include:
- Demonstration of leadership skills
- Team working
- Change management
- Conflict resolution
- Decision making
- Problem solving
- Demonstration of initiative
- What are your salary expectations?
- Know the market rates and your walk away point. You can turn the question around and ask the interviewer what they are prepared to pay. If you must quote a salary, provide a range not an exact figure, which leaves room for negotiation.