Marketing Yourself To Employers Via Application Forms

1. Marketing Yourself To Employers Via Application Forms June Kay Careers Development Consultant Durham University Careers Advisory Service

2. Content • Application forms-general principals • How to approach a competency based question • Example Forms – discussion • Covering letters

3. Application forms • Same general principles as CVs • Competency Based • More specific examples • Statement in Support of Application

4. Typical Questions Tell me about a time when…. • Team work • Creative Problem Solving • Initiative • Planning etc etc What other options did you consider? What problems did you encounter? What valuable lesson did you learn? Etc, etc etc.

5. Tell us about a time when you have worked effectively as part of a team. What was your role and what did you contribute to the team? What did you learn for the future? • S - In August 2007 I participated in the residential GRAD school Course, Communication Skills + More , run by Durham university. At the start of the 4 day course I was allocated to a group of 9 researchers from all faculties whom I had never met before. • T –On day 3 all teams participated in a 3 hour environmental impact simulation, where the remit was to represent your own interests in negotiation with other stakeholders. As representatives of the chemical company we had to consider the financial implications, adverse publicity and legal obligations.

6. …….continued • A –I felt that my strength would lie in preparation of financial figures for use in press statement and negotiations. I told the rest of my team this and asked the other members which skills they felt they could bring to the team. I lead a discussion on allocation of roles and division of tasks then identified priority actions. Since some elements could not be started until others were completed I suggested a system whereby the strongest member for a particular task led a subgroup of two or three members, who could all contribute ideas and assist with practical tasks.

7. …….continued • R –All team members engaged with the task and developed an insight into an area of communication they felt was new to them. The team spirit was high throughout and individual members gained new skills and confidence. We managed to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with all but one of the other parties involved, but this one group managed to raise this very successfully at the final “press conference”. In future I would suggest the team allocate time to practice for media interview, rather than relying on knowing their facts.

8. Statement In Support.. • Essay V Sections • Matching skills / experience / knowledge • Relevance • Grouping “like” together • Facts / Evidence not Philosophy

9. Covering letters • Explain who you are • Say why you want the post • Give examples of your suitability • Explain why you want to work in that organisation • Provide other general information • Say when you are available for interview

10. Publications • Lynda Ali + Barbara Graham, Moving on in Your Career; A guide for academic researchers and postgraduates (RoutledgeFalmer London + New York 2000) • AgCAS/University of London Careers Service, University researchers and the job market

11. Individual Help • 1 to 1 appointment • Bring paper copy form & job details • Tel / e-mail / visit to arrange • 0191 334 1427 / 1437 • j.e.kay@durham.ac.uk • Dunelm House, New Elvet