Difficult application form

[alwaysthepessimist]

Hi - there's a company in the next town to me that I've always wanted to work at but I never get past their application software bot. Another job has just come up and I wondered if anyone knew of any websites that could help me out with the wording? For example the first question they ask is this:

Please demonstrate you are educated to degree level or have substantial work experience demonstrating graduate level ability *
So I don't have a degree but all my peers do and I work at an equal level to them - I always score zero on this question but I just don't know how else to word my answer! The rest of the application form goes on the same format and asks for examples etc etc - I just never score enough points

X years' experience in a role requiring graduate level skills
Ability to analyse information and advise others
X amount of experience managing others

Those are the sorts of things I would include - not sure what you tried before though?

OP, share your answer to the question so can help, using some key words from the JD.

‘I have worked at a strategic/managerial level in organisations for x years. Doing these roles I have to think and act I strategically, work alone and in teams, provide leadership, do research and analysis. Through this I am able to act at the same level and with the same competencies as my degree holding peers.’

I am able to demonstrate that I have work experience to the required level through my previous roles and performing above expectations at all times. I have solely managed an office, made executive level decisions and carried out the requirements when needed.

This is how I have answered it previously

I think your answer is quite vague, OP. It's hard to tell what you mean by "executive level decisions".

If I were hiring for a role and wanted someone with a degree or equivalent experience, I think I'd be looking for them to demonstrate their general intelligence, their ability to analytical and synthesise complex information, their capacity for critical thinking and possibly their research skills. If the work that you currently do requires these skills, can you provide examples of this?

Analyse, not analytical! Clearly, my degree didn't leave me with the ability to write coherently!

Yes I can provide this - it's really hard because I've been in the same job for 25+ years then got made redundant, I'm in another job but it doesn't challenge me - last time I went for a job you sent a letter - the world of work has totally changed and I'm finding it hard to get my head around it!

Yes, OP, I can totally relate. I was made redundant last year and spent months looking for something else.The application process has become very complicated and I found that I was getting rejected even for jobs that were way below my previous level and experience. It was incredibly disheartening, and I began to wonder whether I had just become unemployable.

It all fell into place in the end, though - quite unexpectedly if I'm honest - when I got offered my dream job, at a higher level and on a higher salary than my previous role. So hang on in there and keep trying...the right job will materialise in the end!

The problem with the old approach you speak of - just sending in a letter is that you receive too many applications now from completely unsuitable candidates because it's too easy to apply. But the new approach does mean that suitable candidates sometimes don't make it through either - is there any way you can approach the hiring manager directly if you don't get through?
Dh was kicked out of an application process by the computer says no - he approached the hiring manager and got the job.

I don't think you can but it's definitely worth me asking!