MAKING BRILLIANT APPLICATIONS – STANDARD AND ONLINE Kath Houston

What do you feel like when faced with any kind of application form? Bored? Scared? Get it over with? Don’t want to do it Put off doing it and miss the deadline Over-confident Can’t be bothered Something else?

The Plan The great white space – personal statement sections Match the criteria paragraph by paragraph Perfect punctuation, spelling and grammar Questions on application forms and at interviews Competency based questionsGeneral/usual questions Overview of the typical recruitment process Application formsThe fiendish ones

Types of graduate level application forms (AF)  Regular – data/info sections then Personal Statement– eg Lancashire Country Council – information boxes, personal statement section and references  Specific graduate AF – similar to regular but with additional boxes for situational or competency based questions  OnLine AF as above but may include timed tests eg BBC. Let’s take a look at one.

Application forms  Job applications The principles are crucial – get this right. General pointers/best advice  Doing what they ask you to do  The factual bits  The Personal Statement section – a trap for the unwary.  The desirable and essential criteria.

Applications for jobs 7 Online torture The need to be painstaking in attention, meticulous, showcase skills, experience and ability Get inside the mind of the recruiter Making the shortlist – how you do this.

Competency or Situational Questions on application forms and at interviews Describe a situation when you led a team/worked in a team Give me an example of a time when you dealt with confrontation Describe a situation when you influenced or motivated others Describe a situation when you used initiativeTell me about a time when you took responsibility Give an example of when you solved a problem

STAR Approach 9 SITUATION – When, where, with whom (contextualise) TASK – Describe the situation or task you want to offer as evidence ACTION – What did you do? What was your contribution? How did you make things happen? RESULT – What was the result/outcome? (preferably positive) What did you learn?

Application Form essentials Follow the instructions!Find the Job Description/Person Specification – analyse the key pointsPhotocopy the form and have a trial run or copy the form and paste it into WordDo the factual bits first Personal Statement – match each and every point in the Specification, one paragraph at a time Proof read – get someone else to check it. Be vigilant for typos, mis-spellings, grammar (apostrophes) Leave it 24 hours and read through it again (ideally)

On Line applications  Jobs at Google n=europe See a job, like a job, APPLY button The job cart experience – deceptively simple What will you have to show to make a brilliant application? Customised cover letter and CV, perfectly matching the job

Typical online procedures  Not based on handwriting  Fast response from employer  May start with a questionnaire (about yourself, degree, UCAS points) – may be first sift  No spell check – you have to be vigilant or if it is not timed you can copy and paste it into Word to be absolutely sure  No text speak – use quality literacy

Typical online procedures (continued)  Register with a password at the beginning  They may incorporate a selection test (aptitude, personality or video clip situations to decide on)  Good on line forms allow you to view the whole and print it off (good idea) and save as you go along  Bad forms expect you to do it at one hit and may ‘crash’ when you submit them  SO – what approach should you take? Practise selection tests available – get in training

Online Application Form essentials Follow the instructions! Have your brilliant CV ready to upload if they want that as well or so you can copy and paste skill examples from CV to AF. Have the Job Description/Person Specification to hand– analyse the key points ahead of starting your application session. What do you need to put across that will interest the employer? Prepare your self by doing some calming breathing and reminding yourself of your strong points regarding the job Be painstaking and focused – have a pencil and blank paper to hand nearby in case you need to make notes Have a drink (non alcoholic) by you and choose a time when you will not be disturbed or distracted Proof read for minor errors/typos as you go along ideally. Be vigilant for typos, mis-spellings, grammar (apostrophes) Press the submit button when you are absolutely happy with what you have written.

Final reminders The great white space – personal statement sections Match the criteria paragraph by paragraph Perfect punctuation, spelling and grammar Questions on application forms and at interviews Competency based questionsGeneral/usual questions Overview of the typical recruitment process Application formsThe fiendish ones