How long does it take you to do an application?

[MilestoneMum]

Seems to take me 2 hours to input employment history, qualifications, courses etc...especially on some online forms, and then at least another 2 hours to write and refine personal statement questions. And then I go through it again to check it...what am I doing wrong?

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

I think that's how long it takes, espeically to write the personal statement. I think once you've done a few, you've got some words you can crib for the next ones, so it gets quicker, but I must have spent hours on some of them.

[Lilaclily]

Surely it should take hours?
Every application needs to be individually tailored IMO

[DevonCiderPunk]

45 mins

but I have the gift of the gab

[EBearhug]

I think 2 hours is pretty good going.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

3-4 hours. I struggle to complete more than one online application per day.

[boogiewoogie]

Hours sometimes in a few sittings over a couple of days. I don't spend all day long doing one but I need to think about what my strengths are for the particular job and consult dh for his opinion on how it sounds.

[PeppermintInfusion]

That would probably be about right if you are doing it thoroughly and tailoring it to the specific job and so on.

Most jobs I apply for require CVs but with a lengthy enough cover letter. I spent a bit of time crafting a few paragraphs about myself that would really sell me and now I can use it for my applications/cover letters without having to start from scratch each time. Then I adapt it to emphasise different skills. I can also use it on LinkedIn and as a basis for the "So tell me about yourself..." moments at interviews and networking.

It saves me considerable time and I know that it has been refined to capture exactly what I want it to.

Also, I've been working on writing a similar thing for key topics/skills I am likely to talk about in depth.

[lljkk]

1-3 hours.

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

Peppermint, I'm impressed by that.

[PeppermintInfusion]

Ha, I impressed myself! The thing is, my job is being redundant at the end of the year so I'm in the odd situation of having basically a year's notice and a lot of time on my hands in work

[weatherall]

Hours!

[TheNumberfaker]

Taking me days as it's my first one in 15 years. I keep stumbling over what should be easy parts to complete. Like what do you put if a previous employer has been taken over/changed name? For example you worked for Cadbury's but it's been taken over by Kraft. Do you put a) Cadbury's
b) Kraft
c) Cadbury's (now trading as Kraft)
???