Job Applications - any tips?

Roman151 · 2023-03-15T15:07:46+00:00

Hello everyone, I'm looking for a new job, and I've seen one I like the look of - but - the application form is putting me off. Does anyone have any tips/resources that might help? It's one of those forms where you have to demonstrate how you meet the competencies and I am terrible at that! I'll sometimes say "no, I don't have experience with that" and then have someone else point out a whole load of examples of the experience I have and how it's relevant! Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Biscuitlover456 · 15/03/2023 21:55

I would start by writing up some examples of things you have done at work - your responsibilities, any projects etc. That’s a good resource to have and add to anyway for things like your CV.

Then I would look at what you’ve got and match those tasks to general competencies: there are lists online of general competencies/skills. So if you had been (for example) designing and promoting a new gardening course you might have been writing for different audiences, researching course content, communicating with stakeholders along with specific competencies relating to perhaps design software etc.

Then look at which competencies the job description/person spec is seeking and input those required from your list into your application. You might need to tweak the examples a bit to bring out specific elements which are important for that role. I have a bank of different examples I use/tweak for applications/interviews and it tends to work pretty well. Also saves me time when I’m doing applications! Good luck :-)

Original poster

Roman151 · 16/03/2023 13:02

Biscuitlover456 · 15/03/2023 21:55

I would start by writing up some examples of things you have done at work - your responsibilities, any projects etc. That’s a good resource to have and add to anyway for things like your CV.

Then I would look at what you’ve got and match those tasks to general competencies: there are lists online of general competencies/skills. So if you had been (for example) designing and promoting a new gardening course you might have been writing for different audiences, researching course content, communicating with stakeholders along with specific competencies relating to perhaps design software etc.

Then look at which competencies the job description/person spec is seeking and input those required from your list into your application. You might need to tweak the examples a bit to bring out specific elements which are important for that role. I have a bank of different examples I use/tweak for applications/interviews and it tends to work pretty well. Also saves me time when I’m doing applications! Good luck :-)

This is so helpful - thank you!

The example you gave about the garden course design and how that can be broken down is exactly what I struggle with (I'd probably say "designed new course" and that would be it!) so that has been really helpful to see it broken down!

Writing out proper examples of what I do seems so simply but I hadn't thought of doing that! I'll have a look at the general competencies as well.

Thanks again!

OP posts:

TeenLifeMum · 16/03/2023 21:00

I recently had one where I had to give examples of all the competencies and there were so many - 5 sections. I copied and pasted it all into word to save it in case the form broke. 3,400 words! Absolutely bonkers!
maybe talk it through with someone who knows you?