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Student Development

Successful applications, an interactive session

Victoria Howard

Information & Advice Specialist

www.le.ac.uk/studentdevelopment

What do you want to get out of the session?

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Objectives

By the end of this session you should:

• Understand who uses application forms & why they use them

• Understand what employers are looking for

• Be able to structure responses

• Understand why applications sometimes fail

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Why application forms?

45 applications

per job (2010)

60% workfo

rce

0.4% of organisations

• Graduate recruiters:

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Why are we here?

“64% of recruiters said recent graduates employability skills were more important to them than the specific occupational, technical or academic knowledge associated with the graduates degree.”

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Prepare!

1. Time

2. Make a photocopy

3. Read the instructions

4. Research

• The job (job spec, description)

• The employer

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Mandatory info & personal details

• Give contact numbers and email addresses that you check regularly

• Follow the instructions and answer all the questions

• Do not leave boxes blank

• If not applicable, write N/A

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Qualifications

• Work in reverse chronological order unless told otherwise

• If little space, summarise information

• If studied outside of the UK, state what the qualification is equivalent to (see NARIC)

• Could refer to a separate sheet if necessary

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Work history

• Work in chronological order unless stated

• If you didn’t have an official job title, think of one that fully describes your position

• Keep duties & responsibilities relevant to the skills/qualities that the employer is looking for

• Explain gaps in history positively

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Structuring your answers - CAR

• Context• Action • Result

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Motivation questions

• ‘What appeals to you about working for…’ or ‘Outline your reasons for applying …’

• Show you have done your research

• Include facts about the employer, parts of the training that appeal to you or what you could bring to their organisation

• Avoid being too general

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Motivation Questions

• Read the question and responses in handout 1.1

• In groups, discuss what you think of the response

• Try using the marking system to score the answer

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Marking system Question addressed in depth with

relevant, specific examples pointed out3

Solid answer with some good detail, providing some relevant examples

2

Beginning to address questions, but very little evidence or examples

1

Question not addressed or misinterpreted 0

Now see handout 1.2 for comments on the responses and possible marks. Do you agree?

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Competency based questions

• ‘Describe a time you have had to take the role of leader…’

• Consider the question; what is the employer trying to find out?

• Answer the actual question!

• Use various examples for different questions

• Refer to a range of different scenarios

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxvE_bNjkrM&feature=related

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Competency based questions• Read the question and responses in handout 2.1

• Again, small groups, discuss what you think of the responses

• Now see 2.2 for comments on the responses and possible marks. Do you agree?

Question addressed in depth with relevant, specific examples pointed out

3

Solid answer with some good detail, providing some relevant examples

2

Beginning to address questions, but very little evidence or examples

1

Question not addressed or misinterpreted 0

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Action wordsAssessed Analysed

Created Coordinated

Delegated Researched

Developed Encouraged

Evaluated Implemented

Initiated Organised

Managed Motivated

Produced Supervised

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Have a go! “Describe a time when you worked successfully as part

of a team” (300 words)

• Swap responses with someone and give them some feedback

• You can always bring answer into Student Development for feedback

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Common mistakes

• Spelling and grammar

• Not answering the questions

• Not giving examples

• Underselling yourself

• Motivation

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Final tips• Stay within the word count• Follow the instructions• Check deadlines and leave ample time • Make a copy of the final version • Give examples• Proof read • Seek feedbackDo

• Don’t just copy/paste for multiple applications• Leaving blank spaces• Repeating yourself• ‘Negative’ phrases such as ‘I had to’

Avoid

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Further help?

Bookable 1-1 appointments, email & telephone guidance

0116 252 2004

sdzhelpdesk@le.ac.uk

Student Development, University of Leicester

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