Once you have successfully found a position you wish to apply for, you need to make sure your application does you justice and provides you with the best possible chance of getting an interview. This means reading the job description and person specification and taking time over your application demonstrating your skills and experience.
How good a match are you?
All employers will be judging how well your application matches the ‘person specification’ for the position you are applying for. The applicants who closely match the person specification will be the ones that are shortlisted for interview.
To stand the best chance of receiving an invitation to interview is to demonstrate that you do have the skills and experience as stipulated within the person specification and provide clear examples within the supporting information section.
Complete all the parts of the form
Read the instructions within the advertisement and application form very carefully and make sure that you complete all the sections of the application form. The information you give in the ‘application for employment’ section will be used to decide if you should be shortlisted for interview.
The ‘personal information’ and ‘monitoring information’ sections will not be used for shortlisting, but will be kept for administrative purposes only.
Provide good supporting information
The ‘supporting information’ section is your opportunity to sell yourself therefore make sure you use it to your advantage. You can include any information here that has not been covered elsewhere on the form. Demonstrate why you would be suitable and how you meet the person specification. You need to convince the recruiter that you have the required skills, knowledge and experience and that they should be inviting you for an interview.
You can include, among other things, details about:
- your duties and responsibilities;
- your skills, knowledge and/or experience which is relevant to the post;
- identify any employment gaps;
- voluntary work you have accomplished;
- research, publication and/or presentation experience.