Aaaagh, application form hell - how do I sell myself?

[lalalonglegs]

I'm applying for a job that is probably punching slightly above my weight (although I am confident that I could do it). I've been self-employed (in the same field) for two years and am just clueless about how to make my application sound plausible. I've been through the job spec and know I match a lot of what they are asking for but they are fairly basic skills for anyone at this level - how do I make myself sound better? Flowery? Anyone?

will be back later with some thoughts

Thanks so much.

If the skills they are asking for are fairly basic for someone at your level, why do you feel it is punching above your weight?

Address each of the criteria in your application. The aim is to get them to shortlist you for interview by making it as easy as possible to tick all the boxes.

Give a bit of detail for each criteria, headline stuff, like 'have managed several significant company-wide project boards delivering x y and z' if the criteria is experience of project management. Or something like that.

Can you give any more detail? Why are you concerned, is there somewhere you think they might have a bit of a doubt about you?

It's a very prestigious job and I am worried that being freelance for a couple of years will count against me. The department would be larger than the one I used to manage with a wider remit but essentially the same skills involved. So it's an editing job and says things like "Good visual sense" and "Good communication skills"; "Experience of managing a team" etc and then stuff I find harder to prove such as "wide interest and knowledge of lifestyle and current affairs"... How do I show that on an application form?

Do it by numbers in the first instance. Just list each bit of the job spec/person spec and note down a sentence or two on how you meet it. String it all together when you're done and you'll have the bones of a decent application.

Remember, what you want is to show them that you meet the criteria well enough for them to want to meet you - then you can crap yourself prepare to dazzle at the interview.

Re: wide interest of current affairs' etc - don't say anything waffly. Find something you have actually done in your work and say 'My experience of x, y and z' or 'My work on x,y and z...demonstrates that I have a proven interest in lifestyle and current affairs....

I would personally see freelance as an asset and you should definitely emphasise the skills being freelance has provided you with - a wide range of networks, good self discipline, ability to come up with new ideas (otherwise you wouldn't have got work I assume?) etc etc etc.

You sound like you're lacking confidence but as Flowery says, if you have the skills, why wouldn't you be able to do it. And if it's a slightly bigger team, well, a) you have two more years of experience since then and b) of course it's bigger than before - why would you apply for a job that involves you going backwards in your career?

Right, thank you, feeling fired up - my application form will tear the others apart.

You are right to identify your freelancing as something to address. It may not be reasonable of them to be concerned about it, but they might be, or it might raise a few questions at least.

So sell it as a bonus. Extra experience and perspective that it is enabling you to bring to this role which you would not have gained if you'd just stayed in employment for the last two years. So you meet all the criteria anyway, but you also bring x y and z from your freelancing on top.

How do you make "What appeals to you about this job?" not sound incredibly self-serving? (Six weeks holiday, flexi-time, easy commute...)

You need to say stuff about how the prospect of working with this organisation excites you, what particular aspects of the job are especially interesting to you, what specific challenges you are looking for from this next career move and how you think this role will bring those, and stuff about how much you have to offer this role and how much you would love the opportunity to make the difference you know you can.

Don't say stuff about lots of time off and being down the road it means you can roll out of bed at 8.45...

"make your weakness your strength" - being freelance for a couple of years shows that you are organised, self-motivated and disciplined.

..then emphasise previous experience of team work and leadership to make sure they don't think you are a sad loner