Not sure if the formatting will come out here properly:
Job/college application advice
? Get an online/electronic copy of the application form if possible. Typed applications are almost always (unless specifically stated otherwise) more welcome than hand written ones.
o Print on plain white paper of a high quality. Coloured paper will make your application stand out but in the wrong way. Trying to be too fancy will land your application in the bin.
? DO NOT WRITE A SINGLE THING ON YOUR APPLICATION FORM UNTIL YOU HAVE READ EVERYTHING ON THIS LIST AND FOLLOWED EVERY INSTRUCTION.
? DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE HAS CHECKED IT ALL.
? The application is essentially broken down into 4 sections:
o Section one ? basic information about you
o Section two ? the most important part? the ?tell me about yourself? section
o Section three ? referees
o Section four ? equal opportunities form (racial background, disability etc)
? All four sections must be neatly and accurately filled in.
AT ALL TIMES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO THROW YOUR APPLICATION IN THE BIN TO MAKE SELECTION EASIER.
? INACCURATE INFORMATION ? BINNED!
? POOR SPELLING ? BINNED!
? POOR GRAMMAR ? BINNED!
? MISSED SECTIONS/INFORMATION ? BINNED!
? Section 2 is the most important part? we?ll get to that in a mo.
? Section 3 ? Pick good referees. Don?t pick anyone who is related to you. Don?t pick friends. Teachers are good but those with management responsibility are better (e.g. Head of year, Learning Leader, Keystage co-ordinator) and if you have an employer who will say good things about you use them too.
o MAKE SURE YOU ASK YOUR REFEREE FIRST!!!!
o Make sure that they will be polite and that you know what to expect from their reference. They are not allowed to lie in a reference BY LAW.
? Section 4 is usually placed in a sealed envelope with your application and should not have any bearing on your selection.
? Section 2? ?Tell me about yourself?, ?Briefly explain why??, ?please provide any additional information?? or, in short, ?SELL YOURSELF?
o When folks first fill in application forms this is the most dreaded section but it shouldn?t be.
o THIS is your time to stand out from the crowd.
o THIS is your chance to sell yourself.
o THIS is the single most important part of the application.
o LOOK at the course/job information
o READ all of the parts of the prospectus/information pack about the college/work place
o LIST all the important attributes that they are looking for from a student/employee
o LIST all the things they offer in addition to the course/job to a student/employee
o MATCH your experience/desires/personality to these lists.
 e.g. ?We are looking for an enthusiastic student who has a genuine passion for hairdressing.? Should be matched with: ?I am an enthusiastic student with a passion for hairdressing?
? !!!!!!!BUTBUTBUTBUT!!!!!!!!
? EVERY application is going to say that? that is the easy bit. What comes next is important:
? ??as can be seen by my volunteering at cut and curl as a general assistant. This unpaid role provided me with an insight into the world of hairdressing; showed me how a real business works; and demonstrates my commitment to hairdressing.?
? PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EVIDENCE!
o What clubs have you been a member of?
o What enrichment have you done?
o What do you do in your spare time?
o What jobs have you had?
o HOW can you show you are interested in this??
? Keep it brief and to the point. Do not see ?you can continue on additional sheets of paper if necessary? as a challenge. At this point you have limited experience and too much writing will just get you binned as they?ll think you are padding.
? DO NOT LIE
? But you don?t have to tell them the whole truth?
o ?I spend most evenings as a level 30 mage on World of Warcraft? isn?t really a relevant comment for an application form.
? READ YOUR APPLICATION OUT LOUD WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED
? HAVE SOMEONE ELSE READ YOUR APPLICATION FORM ONCE YOU ARE DONE.