Application form - I need your help.....

[QueenOfQuotes]

oh wise and wonderful MN'ers. I'm about to start filling in an application form for a Care Assistant job - descrption of which is

"Must be aged 21+ years. NVQ Level 2 preferred but not essential, as training can be given. Duties involve caring for the personal needs of elderly residents. Will be required to make hourly checks on residents and assisting them with their needs. Some domestic work is required."

DH doesn't seem to "fussed" about this one, so is giving me very little (actually make that "no") input - but it's a job I'd really love to do. I haven't filled in many application forms before (4 to be precise - and they were all for shop/customer service assistants - so a completely different ball game).

I need your help to give me a chance of at elast getting an interview LOL.

1. Should I write in capitals or normal 'sentence' case? on 2 of the forms I filled in a few weeks ago it specified (ie one said "block capitals" the other said "normal handwriting" - or something to that effect LOL). This one doesn't say - and I don't want to stuff it up from the very start.

2. There's not many 'bits' to fill in. One small(ish) box for qualifications, training and/or relevant experience (of which I have none ) and then nearly a whole page (18 lines to be precise and - it's a badly photocopied form so about 1cm missing from the bottom lines at one side ) for "any other information you wish to give in support of your application")

What do I say??? How on earth do I find something (that takes up a reasonable amount of space) that will 'support' my application.

3. It's got a 'pre-employment questionaire' (health and fitness basically). One section has a whole list of "are you suffering or have you every suffered from:" type things.....and one is depression, anxeity or nervous illness blah blah blah......I had depression at the start of the year - but I'm fine again now - will that affect my chances???

I personally think QOQ could do this standing on her head, unfortunately in manycare settings the wages are not great and they employ staff who frankly couldn't give two shites, it is often heartbreaking but you get the odd gem and i think a potential employer would see you are just that QOQ good luck to you x

Thanks everyone, this is all fantastic - it's a very good home (know that from people at church who visit residents there frequently - as it's in the parish - and also because I found the "ofsted equivalent" of reports, obviously for nursing homes lol - and read it, got a very good inspection report earlier this year).