Lovely, fabulous, clever MNers - I have here a (very short) application form - and I need help.... (especially Nevergoogle and others that were on my thread last night)

[MaMoTTaT]

I'm absolutely shite at the form filling in bit of applying for jobs. I can search for them, ring up to get an application form/find out more about them, haven't been for many interviews in my long short life but have coped ok with them but I CAN NOT DO THE FORMS. (exH was useful for something apart from his sperm........).

I have a mental block, and inability to put down relevant, useful, comprehensible information.

\link{http://www.thehappychickcompany.co.uk/index.html\this is the thread I started last night}. I've mentioned in the thread some of my experience etc.

The job is an Activities Co-ordinator for a Care Home (elderly residents mostly with dementia).

Job description (wonderfully long and helpful - not )

is

"Previous experience is not required. Duties are organising activities such as one on one and group sessions. Successful applicants are required to provide an enhanced disclosure. Disclosure expense will be met by employer".

The application form is 2 A4 sides long, I can fill most of it ok (I'm not that blonde ). It's the

"list the main duties of your current or most recent post, and any major achievements" (only 5 lines to write in)

and the

"Additional information" Please explain what attracts you to the post for which you are applying and offer evidence of your suitability and any details which would be beneficial to your application, including details of leisure activities where relevant" (there's about 1/2 a page - 21 lines to write in)

My church organ/newsletter editor/children's service organiser (as part of a team) stuff is something that is on-going - I won't be stopping that when I start work (99% of it is evenings/weekends and I take the DS's along) - but (I think) it's given me experience that will help me.

However my last "proper job" was as a Care Assistant (nights - finished about 3 years ago), in a Care Home for elderly residents, mostly with dementia........worked there for 1 1/2yrs and obviously that came with all the training and stuff and my actual hands on experience with the people I'll be working with if I get the job.

WTF do I put on the form. I don't want you to write it for me, but key points, and a vague order to write them in would be extremely gratefully received.

It's a 20hrs a week between 9am and 3pm (and I timed the walk from the infant school where DS2 is and it's 10 minutes so absolutely perfect in that respect), only the 2nd job that's come up part time job with "regular hours" (as opposed to evenings,nights, split shifts, weekends etc) in a month - so I'm sure there's going to be a LOT of people applying for it.

HELP - (please)

bump as people start arriving home from work

I'm home from work :)

It sounds as if you have lots of very relevant experience for the job - all you need to do is set it all out in a way that makes it clear for the employer that you are the most suitable person for the job. I would take each part of the criteria, break it down into headings such as 'Employment history' (list your jobs and the main duties below each in bullet points myabe), 'Other experience', 'Outside interest' etc. and make your application mirror the employer's specifications, to show them that you are a good match. It's fine to say that the hours of the job are one of the things you find attractive (presumably it's not term-time only though), but don't labour the point too much because the employer will be looking to see what you can offer them, not how the job will fit in with your life.

Are you thinking of dropping the application form off in person? Might be a good idea to do that, as it's not a large organisation and you might have the chance of an informal chat with the manager.

Good luck - sounds like a very interesting job.

Hi Sinking,

Thanks - problem is there's no "criteria" there's no person specifications.

What I've posted about is the job description in full (excluding the hours/salary information" (the joy of low end jobs ).

Is it it really OK to mention that one of the things that attracted me was the hours? I would have automatically thought that would be a no no. . You're right - it's not term time only, but sure does make 38 weeks of the year much much simpler in childcare terms.

I probably will drop it off in person, I want to make sure it gets there once I've filled it in (and as it's so close seems daft to go and post it when posting it would mean the same length walk as dropping it off in person).

bump - not to good at forms myself but hopefully someone is out there to help

thanks for the bump Magna.

no probs wish I could help but as I said hopeless myself.

Is it a large residential home?

Given their lack of detail and structure to the job ad, I might take a less structured approach and divide it into two sections:

1. I would write a bit about your previous job, to ilustrate that you've worked with/in environment of people with dementia, as that will be a big plus - you can demonstrate awareness of how the illness affects people, and how that might influence the choice and suitability of activity. I'm assuming that you enjoyed the prev job, so if you can put in what you found rewarding about that post and what you think you can (a) deliver/bring to the job (b) will get out of it
2. The organising bit is met by your other 'evening hat' so I'd write a bit describing what you do there (briefly!), incl the teamwork, and how you think those skills/experience will be useful in this job.
3. I would then add that the hours are attractive with your other commitments and how lovely it would be to contribute to the local community (or something of that ilk!).

I think putting a little in to show that (a) you've noticed its part time (we get applicants who are surprised when we point out the salary pro-rata) and (b) that you are keen to work those hours.
HTH and good luck :)

^ sorry missed out that I thought it would be helpful/supportive

Thanks Bela - anything other tips/comments from others also welcome.

Salary is per hour - so no problem about getting mixed up between pro rata or otherwise.

I did enjoy some of my previous job, I enjoyed spending time with the residents, talking to the, helping them, but because of the nature of the job - with 30 od residents and only 2 staff on at night it meant there was no time to spend with any of the residents individually (aside from taking care of their immidiate needs such as washing, dressing, taking to the toielt - it was straight from helping X to the toilet, to getting Y dressed, to someone else iykwim).

I'd be getting someone washed and dressed in the morning and they'd be enthusiastically telling me a story/reminiscing and I'd have to cut the conversation short when the buzzer went off and that was that.

I found that bit frustrating (and the management were awful.......but that's another story and one that won't be mentioned at all ).

I want to be able spedn more time with them. (much) longer term I'm looking to be a family support worker (decided against SW for similar reason to actual "care worker" - the time/paperwork constraints means you can't really dedicate any proper time at all to one particular person/family/group.

So you could put something along the lines that you'd had a supporting/enabling/caring role which gave you the chance to see what other interaction can add to quality of life and that your other experiences with organising activities gives you useful background to know where to start with the job. The CA job hopefully gave you some idea of might be suitable, but I guess there'd be individual assessment as well?

yes the individual care plans would (or should if they're doing them properly.......) tell me (as well as talking to them and their family) what their interests, hobbies etc are.

If their care plans didn't contain at least basic info about those sorts of things

"used to enjoy gardening" "loved crosswords" etc then tbh I'm not sure I would want to work there..........

Oh and write it out on another bit of psper first to check it'll fit in the space. I learnt that one the hard way

Sounds like you've got a really good mix of prev experience.
The gardeners, could you do collages from gardening mags, grow herbs in small containers or even do bonsai trees?

If you're dropping it off then its an excellent chance to chat, as prev said. Dont be too casual though.