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Original poster

Quick question about a job application

15 replies

pageturner · 21/10/2009 23:25

How long should the supporting statement be, where you match your skills against the job description and person spec? The job I'm applying for has 20 essential attributes (all of wich I can cover) and 12 desirables (or which I can cover 8) and my rough draft is over 3 pages .

How long is too long?

Also (sorry, realised there was another question after all!), I had organised the statement under the headings from the person spec, but there's a lot of overlap. If I restructure it to rationalise the content will they take the trouble to pick out all the attributes? I was trying to make it easy for them not to miss that I have all the essentials.

OP posts:
mylovelymonster · 21/10/2009 23:35

My DH has done this recently as under threat of redundancy and I believe getting in all the attributes as listed in spec is the way to go. Get in all the key buzzwords and leave out exemplifying too heavily until you get the interview to cut down length?
Someone in HR might be along soon to help....

Yes - make it easy for whoever will be doing the initial weeding out as likely they won't be totally au fait with specific requirements - may be an external agency, internal HR - unlikely to be recruiting manager directly involved.

TanyaBranning · 21/10/2009 23:46

I'd say keep it to one page, one and a half tops. Hit each of the essentials on the job spec, and weave in as many of the phrases from the desirables as poss afterwards. Three pages def too long.

If it helps, I often group together related bits of the job spec and create one paragraph that ticks them all off, with one killer example that meets all two/three/whatever.

Original poster
pageturner · 22/10/2009 09:28

Ah, TB, that was what i was hoping I could do. I was just worried that if it's a box-ticker person rather than someone who really knows about the job (like mlm said) they might miss the fact that I've got all the essentials.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 22/10/2009 09:36

leave it under their headings - they'll love you.
would try to cut it down a bit - happy to read it if i can help?

Original poster
pageturner · 22/10/2009 09:40

SPB - I want them to love me! I'm not sure that I'm the best qualified for the job but I do have all the skills...I'm not feeling very confident about it, which is amplified by the fact that I really want it. It's the Holy Grail of jobs: part-time, term-time only and quite well paid!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 22/10/2009 09:41

do you want me to read it?
Kate Fallon 44 at hot mail dot com

Original poster
pageturner · 22/10/2009 10:44

OK! be gentle with me though! This is my second job application in 11 years!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 22/10/2009 11:11

got them thanks, will have a look - so far it looks very impressive

Original poster
pageturner · 22/10/2009 11:12

Thank you! I don't feel very impressive atm ...

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 22/10/2009 11:38

sent it back, tbh I think it could go as you have it now, but as everyone likes to seem important I have made some suggestions

Original poster
pageturner · 22/10/2009 11:55

Thankyou Stealth, that was brilliant!

OP posts:
mylovelymonster · 22/10/2009 12:38

Lots of luck PT!

Original poster
pageturner · 23/10/2009 20:47

I've just had a phone call...I've got an interview! Eeek! Monday 2nd November! Thank you guys, particulaly SPB!

OP posts:
boocha · 02/11/2009 22:46

How did it go?

Original poster
pageturner · 02/11/2009 23:09

Oooh, well remembered! The interview went well and there were tasks that went OK, but I didn't get it . Someone with more experience did, but they said lots of nice things about how I did.

Thank you for asking.

OP posts:
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