Help needed completing job app for Tower Hamlets council !!!!

[noorqt]

Hi guys, I am trying desperately to get back to work. I was made redundant whilst on Mat leave with DD1 in 2009 and then had DD2 in 2010. Since 2010 I have completed my LLb and desperately want to get into work ideally into a public sector job.

I have seen a job advert with tower hamlets council but I don't have any idea how to complete the personal statement section which isn't asking for a straight forward personal statement but one that is broken up into area of: knowledge, qualification&experiance; skill; ability. From the notes it looks like they want examples for each section??? I'm very confused.
Can anyone out here help me , I have no previous experience in public sector work and I believe there is a method to completing the a applications can anyone enlighten me please?? Xx

[noorqt]

So sorry for the long post. Thank you all in advance. Xx

[Beastofburden]

Look at the job spec. It is probably also broken up I ot those same areas. S for instance if it says, under "knowledge" "must have knowledge of relevant legislation" then in your personal statement you write down exactly how you have knowledge of relevant legislation. If under "skills" it says "must have management experience" then in your personal statement you write down what management experience you have. Ad so on.

Quite normal format for public sector. What the panel will have in front of them is a grid with all the essential and desirable qualifications on it, and what you are doing in your personal statement is giving them the evidence they need to put a tick against your name for each bit.

HTH, good luck!

[noorqt]

Isn't there a format or acronym, like

S- situation
?
?
?
?

I'm not sure if the acronym that is used in public sector jobs.... It's been a while since I applied for a job. Sorry guys

[titchy]

Competency based interviews use 'STAR' - situation, target, action, result. That's more for interviews though, I'd just go through the person spec tbh.

[Polkadotpatty]

Yes, as Beast already said, try and match it up with the job desc/person spec so it's easy for them to see how great you are .

Then, if council recruitment processes are anything like health, they may be looking for you to use this space to give concrete examples. So, if under "Skill" you knew from the job desc they wanted someone who was good at communication, you could write something like "My skills in communication have been extremely beneficial when handling complaints from clients, and making sure they feel their concerns have been heard."

The only acronym I can think of beginning with S and sort of related is "smart", which is about setting goals so probably not the one you meant (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-related...I think!)

Good luck, hope all goes well!

[noorqt]

Thank you all, I shall give it a go. I just need an employer to know that I am such a great candidate for this job especially since it would mean so much to me. Xx