Application form help

[mammasmadhouse]

Following a previous post I have an application pack to apply for a post I am very interested in, however, working through the application form I have come to the Experiene, skills, knowledge and commitment section normally I work write an essay style response to describe my past roles and experience etc but in the application form help it states that in shortlisting the panel will base their decision whether to shortlist you on how well you meet each of the criteria in the Person Specification for this particular job; you are requested to use these criteria as headings, followed by a description, with examples. They will give more weight to the essential criteria. Do I still write my normal blurb and then add in points relevant to the ps under prescribed headings?? I may be overthinking this but would be grateful for any advice & guidance.

No! Do it the way they demand.

That's what they want, so give them what they want or it'll be an easy reason to put you into the "no" pile.

If you still have space after doing it their way, then adding anything else you want them to consider would seem to me to be ok.

Thank you DukeHumfrey, can I ask do I just literally use the ps factors and list/detail how I met them?

For example under skills they have:
Skills Adaptability/Flexibility Communication (verbal) Communication (written) Teamwork Accuracy Prioritising Workload Tact and Confidentiality all detailed as essential criteria.

Apologies I know I seem really thick but in all other applications I have made it has just been a request for a general blurb and I am struggling with getting my brain in gear today as I want to impress and not balls it up!!

Thank you in advance for any help once again!!

Well, if I were doing it I've write it bit like (making up an example)

Communication (verbal)
As a , I regularly speak to customers on the telephone and .

Then I'd give an example of when I exhibited wonderful verbal communication in that context.
My work is very keen on the STAR acronym: Situation, Task, Action, Result. I find it a bit rigid but it does give you a structure for your answer if you're struggling with where to start.

It's all a bit of a guess because you can't know exactly what they are looking for, but structuring it in the way they ask is definitely the way forward.