MAKING BRILLIANT APPLICATIONS – STANDARD AND ONLINEKath 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 itPut off doing it and miss the deadlineOver-confidentCan’t be botheredSomething else?

The Plan

The great white space – personal statement sectionsMatch the criteria paragraph by

paragraphPerfect punctuation, spelling and

grammar

Questions on application forms and at interviewsCompetency based questions General/usual questions

Overview of the typical recruitment processApplication forms The 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 applicationsThe 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.

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Applications for jobs

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 teamGive me an example of a time when you dealt with confrontationDescribe a situation when you influenced or motivated others

Describe a situation when you used initiative

Tell me about a time when you took responsibilityGive an example of when you solved a problem

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STAR Approach

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 points

Photocopy the form and have a trial run or copy the form and paste it into Word

Do 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 Googlehttp://www.google.com/about/jobs/locations/#region=europeSee a job, like a job, APPLY buttonThe job cart experience – deceptively simpleWhat 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 traininghttp://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm

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 jobBe painstaking and focused – have a pencil and blank paper to hand nearby in case you need to make notesHave a drink (non alcoholic) by you and choose a time when you will not be disturbed or distractedProof 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 sectionsMatch the criteria paragraph by

paragraphPerfect punctuation, spelling and

grammar

Questions on application forms and at interviewsCompetency based questions General/usual questions

Overview of the typical recruitment processApplication forms The fiendish ones