How to use Person Spec? Advice with application needed!

[SomeoneHasMyNameAlready]

Hi,

I am planning on writing a letter of support to go with my application form for a SENCO job. I then intend to use a grid summarising how I meet each item on their person spec.

The trouble is, there are about 20 items on the list and some of them are things that I would expect to be evidenced by the interview rather than the letter of support. For instance, it would be silly for me to write about how great my ' interpersonal skills' are when surely they will see this in action at interview ;)

However, other items are easier to evidence succinctly on the form eg 'ability to use data to....'.

I'm a bit confused about how many of the 20 or so criteria need evidencing in the application letter and how many I can leave to interview. I don't want to leave gaps and then not get short listed, but equally, I'm worried about sounding too woolly if I start droning on about my philosophy for inclusion, for instance. I'd much rather chat about that at interview!

Any suggestions/ advice greatly appreciated.

Hi there

Some Person Specs detail how the skill is to be evidenced ie application form or interview or assessment. I assume yours does not? Is there any assessment to the selection process or just interview?

Most interviews nowadays do competency based interviews asking for you to give examples of key competencies such as 'Tell me about a time when you have had to go above and beyond in a role?' Therefore you dont want to have given all of this in a application form.

As a HR Manager I dont want to read 5 pages of how great you are - I'll be reading a lot of applications so a wordy one often gets skimmed.

Keep it to 1 page of typed information. Succinct and punchy. Keep to the main elements of the role and those where you think you have a USP (something unique or niche in your field of expertise) that you can wow with. Anything that doesnt fit into the other boxes you've filled in.

Hope that helps

Hi Naturistmum, thanks very much. It's already running to 5 pages!! There is no guidance on how it is to be evidenced and I assume just an interview (rather than task of any kind). I need to cut it down....
How about using my grid but being selective about some of the criteria and then stating something like "I look forward to the opportunity to demonstrating further how I meet your requirements, at interview" . What do you think?

Typically letters of application for teaching posts are longer than for other jobs Nasturtium Respond to every bullet point on the person spec and always give an example. You can evidence your interpersonal skills by times when e.g. you have helped a colleague/student/parent. If you're applying in London there's such a teacher shortage you might have to make less effort! Good luck

Can you create an “executive summary”, where you make a table addressing each point on the person spec.

Even if you don’t end up sending in the full version, it will help you consolidate all your qualities and evidence in your own mind for the interview.

Try and combine a few together, so teamwork and communication could be evidenced by one example.

Try and keep in the same order so it is easier for the person reviewing them to see that you have covered everything.