Applying for Jobs
So, you see a job that you really like the sound of. How can you apply for it? Well, the first thing to do is to read the advert because that will tell you what you need to do. You might need to phone the business and have a telephone interview. This is proper scary!
More than likely though, you'll need to send in one or more of the folliwing:
Here's my top tips for completing each of them.
More than likely though, you'll need to send in one or more of the folliwing:
- A CV (or Curriculum Vitae if you want to be posh!)
- A letter of application
- A completed application form
Here's my top tips for completing each of them.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A CV should be word processed and ideally be no more than 2 pages of A4. It should briefly give an overall written 'picture' of you, outlining your qualifications, experiences and interests.
The CV should be organised into sections and everything should neatly line up (so use the tab button, not the space bar, to get all of your text in line and looking neat). Employers will use a CV to quickly see if somebody is worth interviewing or not. Therefore it should be a snapshot of you, but it must be the neatest thing you've ever produced as it will be the company's first impression of you......and we've all heard about first impressions!
The CV should be organised into sections and everything should neatly line up (so use the tab button, not the space bar, to get all of your text in line and looking neat). Employers will use a CV to quickly see if somebody is worth interviewing or not. Therefore it should be a snapshot of you, but it must be the neatest thing you've ever produced as it will be the company's first impression of you......and we've all heard about first impressions!
Letter of Application
A letter of application should again be word-processed and be spell-checked and checked for grammar and proof-read and double proof-read before you print it out and proof-read it again!!
Ok, so that sounds a bit extreme, but a letter of application should be a detailed letter about why you think you are suitable for the job. You can really go into detail about your experience and your qualifications to make you stand out from the crowd. Make sure you give examples too. So, don't just say that you are 'good at organising people'. Say that you are 'good at organising people which was something you once had to do when ......... (and say what happened).
Ok, so that sounds a bit extreme, but a letter of application should be a detailed letter about why you think you are suitable for the job. You can really go into detail about your experience and your qualifications to make you stand out from the crowd. Make sure you give examples too. So, don't just say that you are 'good at organising people'. Say that you are 'good at organising people which was something you once had to do when ......... (and say what happened).
Application Forms
Application Forms are tricky things. You have to squeeze your life history into tiny, small, boxes and no matter how careful you are, you always seem to make a mistake!
My first piece of advice for completing application forms is to photocopy it twice and fill the two photocopies in first. That way, you won't make the classic mistake of filling in your address with the postcode, only to find out that the next box asks for ............................... you guessed it, your postcode!
The second piece of advice is don't tell any lies! The information that you put on the application form will be used to decide whether or not you get short-listed for an interview. The questions in the interview will then be based on the information on your application form, so don't put down that you can run a marathon in 22 minutes unless you can prove it!
You will also normally be asked to put down details of 2 referees on your application form. This has got nothing to do with football or netball! A referee is somebody that you know who can write a reference about why you would be suitable for the job. The referee cannot be related to you, and one of them should normally be your last boss (if you have one), or your headteacher from school.
My first piece of advice for completing application forms is to photocopy it twice and fill the two photocopies in first. That way, you won't make the classic mistake of filling in your address with the postcode, only to find out that the next box asks for ............................... you guessed it, your postcode!
The second piece of advice is don't tell any lies! The information that you put on the application form will be used to decide whether or not you get short-listed for an interview. The questions in the interview will then be based on the information on your application form, so don't put down that you can run a marathon in 22 minutes unless you can prove it!
You will also normally be asked to put down details of 2 referees on your application form. This has got nothing to do with football or netball! A referee is somebody that you know who can write a reference about why you would be suitable for the job. The referee cannot be related to you, and one of them should normally be your last boss (if you have one), or your headteacher from school.