CV / covering letter etc

[MurielTheCamel]

I feel a bit of a fool asking about this as a fully grown-up professional person, but - I have worked for the same organisation for 20+ years, I'm just about to bite the bullet and take redundancy.

I have seen a job I really want to apply for but this will be the first proper job application I have done since the 90s and I'm not completely sure that I know what I'm doing.

They want:
CV
covering letter / email
supporting statement of 500 words evidencing how you meet the person specification

My question is what goes in the covering letter / email?

I have done a new CV and kept that quite short and concise. That's good yes?

I can do the 500 words from the person spec. (I don't meet one of the main specifications but I hope to persuade them that my experience is still relevant.) If I struggle to fit all my relevant experience in to 500 words, should I / can I make the CV bigger with more info about previous job specs and duties?

All advice gratefully received!

I feel your pain! I am applying for jobs after nearly 14 years and was freaked out today by the idea of adding a motivational statement. CV as I understand should be 1 page ideally - no more than 2. Covering letter is mean to highlight the bits in your cv that match to the job - so seek out the things they ask for and say you are brilliant at them. I'd like you to consider my application for this role because....as you can see from attached CV, I am "brilliant at MN, excellent team player, did xyz that is wholly relevant" etc. The 500 word supporting statement is beyond me though! Quel horreur!

Thank you Waldo!

Completely agree, the whole process is horrific.

I have asked for a chat with the chief exec, because I think you're supposed to do that? Not looking forward to it though.

I just thought what if i get an interview but it's not just an interview it's role play or something

Also wtf is a motivational statement?

Motivational statement is much the same as what you put in a covering letter - why you want the job and why you think you would be the ideal person. I just sent you a PM with my witterings in case it's at all helpful.

Role play! Whether you should chat with the chief exec, I guess, depends on the job. I had a first interview before Xmas. Spent days preparing for every possible question. The guy pointed out that he liked I had written "enthusiastic" on my cv and asked barely anything. I decided he must have hated me on sight and didn't bother, but no, I am invited back for round 2 next week. I don't have the warm and fuzzies about it though.

Ooh good luck!
Do you know how interview 2 will be different from interview 1?

Thanks for the DM, it's really helpful to have an example of the lingo etc.

I have no idea! Maybe he will be the one to ask all the difficult questions!