Using examples in competency-based application from a job that I resigned from - AIBU?

[Pariswhenitdrizzles]

Hello everyone.

I'm applying for a competency-based job at the moment.

Each competency is very specific, and I've found it tricky to think of relevant examples of work that I've done so that I can answer each competency-based question as fully as possible.

For one of the competency questions, the best example that I can think of to use in the answer relates to tasks that I did in a job that I resigned from last year.

The advice given to applicants for this job is that the answers given in the application must demonstrate examples of challenging and demanding situations, and this is the only example of recent work that I've done that fits this really.

Do you think it would give the application panel a bad impression if I write about skills I learned and applied in a job that I resigned from?

AIBU to use this job to answer the questions in the application?

Thanks in advance :)

Bumping :)

I'm not sure I understand the issue, surely any job you've had in the past you would have resigned from (unless you were sacked)? They would totally expect this.

It doesn't matter if you resigned from the job, if it's a good and recent example, then use it.

Any relevant experience is vali; if it's a good example, use it. And good luck!

Thank for your reply whiter :) Sorry for not being very clear in my OP.

In the case of this particular job that I resigned from, I did it for 10 weeks. To avoid drip-feeding, it was a PGCE (my time was split between going to college for training sessions and teaching at a school). On the application, I'll have to include how long I stayed in the job.

The job that I'm applying for now is not a teaching post, but still connected to education.

I'm just worried that it might leave a a bad impression because I resigned from the PGCE after such a short time. Does anyone think it will?

So it's more a course you didn't complete than a job you resigned from? I can see why that would be more problematic. Why did you quit the PGCE? Isn't it a year-long course?

Bit confused about why you'd mention in an application that you resigned?
E.g:

Q - Give an example of when you managed a team.
A - in my role as x at company y, I managed a team of six and was given excellent feedback on my management skills.

Is the issue that you were planning on omitting the course from your employment history and now you're including it as an example you have to include it?

If your example stands up on its own merits, then use it. Just be wary about how you would field follow up questions at interview, especially anything to do with lasting impact

Redred i resigned because i became extremely depressed and anxious, and had very little support from my school and training provider throughout the course.

I often haven't specified which job the example comes from in job forms, particularly when there is a strict word limit, so just say "in a previous role I xxxx demontrating xxx" or "I gained experience of xxx when working as a xxxx/volunteering in xxxx" No need to go into specifics about how long you were there, or even clarifying it was a PGCE, necessarily.

In interview you may be asked more about some of the examples you have given, so you need to have a good answer ready.

Can I check - are you planning to put the course dates on the application ? If so, expect to be asked about it.

Well I can sympathise with that. If they ask why you didn't complete, could you just say 'Ill health that's fortunately now resolved.'? I had to take a long break from my PhD due to depression and worked in an office while I was on my leave of absence.

Since you are using it as an example, surely it's a way of saying what positive thing you drew/ lessons you gained from a bad experience? No point fudging it, spin it.

I say don't use it as your main example of that competency. While they ask for one example, they really are looking for a career-long pattern of demonstrating those skills. By drawing an example from an incomplete and very transient segment of your CV, it suggests you don't have any other experience of that competency at all. I'd use another example as your main one, even if weaker, and then add something like "I first developed this skill when doing the XYZ course" or some passing reference to it that allows you to talk about it if they press you hard on your chosen example

Just use STAR
Situation
Task
Action
Result

Assume it's public sector, doesn't matter if you resigned, turn it into a positive: you recognized the limitations of the role and moved on

Good luck

I think it'd be a bad idea to use that one, since you didn't complete the course, and would think of a challenge (doesn't need to be anything heavy, just a tricky situation) from a job you stayed longer at or your current role.

Thanks so much everyone for your replies :)

Belly yes, that's exactly it. As I resigned from the course after a very short time, I thought that perhaps I could get away with not mentioning it.

I'm in two minds about mentioning it for the competency example. I'd like to mention it because it fits the competency really well. However, I'm also worried about mentioning it because I didn't last in the role (teaching) for very long at all, so it may suggest to the employer that I lack commitment, resilience and reliability etc.

I'm not sure whether the transferable skills that the course taught me (which I'm still applying, and which would be useful to mention in the application) outweigh the fact that I resigned from the course (which would potentially reflect badly on me).

In the application, I have to mention how long each of my roles in my job history lasted. So the employer would be able to see how long I did the PGCE for.

Argh. Any advice please?

Loopy (and everyone else who's posted with suggestions :) ) I've got another teaching example that I think would fit well.

However, this example is from 2013 to 2014 (a year-long teaching assistantship abroad). They've asked for examples to ideally be from the last two years. Do you think that this might still be acceptable?

I don't think it matters that it's a bit older - the main thing is that you have a decent example that you can expand on at interview if asked.

No, much too long ago: the recruiters will wonder why you can't find a more recent one.

Thanks Loopy and Mulledwine :)

As the competencies are so specific with lots of different substrands, I've struggled to find a recent example that fits each of the substrands well.

Applicants will be sifted initially using the competency that I'm planning to use the teaching for. I really want this to be a good example - however, with my most recent teaching experience, the thing that may count against me is that I didn't complete the course.

If you only did the course for 10 weeks then I'd leave it off your application if possible - how long was the gap between leaving the job before your course started and finding a new job? I'd avoid saying I'd left a job for ill health if you DO have to mention it; I'd say instead that you realised quickly it wasn't for you and moved on. That shows decisiveness.

I'd avoid using an example from that time as you don't want to draw attention to it.

I'd use it - I don't think I've tended to specify what job my examples come from, it's usually not relevant to the competency itself. If the question is "tell me about a time when you've managed competing deadlines", or whatever, it's ok to say "in a previous role, I had to manage multiple strands of work, many of which had similar deadlines. I did this by x, y and z. I successfully met all my deadlines and have used this technique since in A, B and C situations." Or whatever - but the interviewer doesn't really care which job your example comes from, as long as it's clearly explained and relevant to the question, and demonstrates that you have the skill they're looking for. (At least, this has been the case on all the panels I've sat on.)

I would be careful about leaving things off your CV if you're asked to list all employment - just mention if asked (and you might well be asked) that you withdrew from the course early because of health issues. Your example is still valid, because it still happened, even if you weren't able to compete the course!

Don't leave things off your CV - they will find out eventually and you will look untrustworthy as a result

If they have asked for examples from the last two years, you really should try to do that