Rules Apply When Applying
There comes a time when we all have to succumb to “the man” and join the rat race. And whether this is for some extra cash for summer vacation or you have been thrown to the lions of the real world following graduation - there are rules that apply when applying. Check out the pointers below:
1 - CV = brief read
CVs should not be any more than two sides of A4. No employer wants to be trawling through pages of text to pick out your skills. Keep it concise and make use of bullet points. The fundamentals to demonstrate are; your skills, your experience and your qualifications. Keep your personal details low key with just your name and contact details. And don’t forget to include references. See the following website for templates; https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/example-cvs
2 - Check that person spec
Many first-timers to the application game make the mistake of studying the job description when making their application. While the job description is important for you in establishing whether you want the position, the employers want to know whether you can do the job. And this is where the person specification comes in. This will be a list of skills/experience criteria that you need to demonstrate you have experience of in order to be considered for the role. If you cannot give an example of each and every essential person spec criteria, then it is unlikely you’ll be selected for interview. So get that person spec list and start ticking
3 - Reach for the STAR
There’s no doubt about it, completing an application is a skill. And your statement(s) to demonstrate how you fit the criteria of the position is where you need to shine. No employer wants to simply read “yes I can work in a team”. They want to know HOW. And equally no employer wants a long-winded “are you sitting comfortably” story about your teamwork either. They want clear, concise, demonstrable evidence that your teamwork skills are second to none. That is where the much-loved STAR model comes in. STAR - Situation. Task. Action. Result. This is a tried and tested formula that proves your worth without the waffle. For example, if one criteria of the person spec is evidence you can work well in a team, your answer may sound like this:
When working as part of the shop floor team in our University grocery store, our manager tasked us to take control of the weekly rota.(S) Due to the team being entirely made up of students, our manager did not want work to interfere with our studies, so gave the responsibility to fill the shifts between the team where we could consider each other’s commitments.(T) The team achieved this by organising a brief, weekly round-up meeting at a time that was convenient for everyone. This allowed all team members’ needs to be considered whilst keeping shift allocation fair.(A) With this approach, people were more flexible and staff sickness/no-shows dropped from 30% to 4%.(R)
And, if the result was not what you wanted or expected, turn this into a positive by showing that you made moves to improve, such as engaging in training or a review/reflection meeting.
4 - Do your research
You’ve got that interview and you know your application inside out and back to front. But don’t leave it there. Now’s the time to do some homework. Stalk that company’s website like it is your ex’s new squeeze! What is their vision, what are their values, what do they strive to achieve. You want to know them better than they know themselves and use it! Throw in the odd sentence “As you say in your mission statement, I also believe…..blah blah blah”. Employers love those who have done their background work.
5 - Practice, practice, practice
It’s all well and good memorising your application and website content, but reciting it verbatim in an interview? A big no-no. Your answers need to flow forth casually but confidently. And the only way to achieve this is practice. And this doesn’t have to be role-play, especially if, like me, it feels so cringe-worthy it makes your skin go tight. Just talk to yourself. Think of each of the person specification point and give the example out loud as if in an interview. Do this in the bath, while doing the dishes or when you’re driving. And throw in a joke, gesticulate with your arms, expand on it makes sense - whatever comes naturally to you is the best way.
At Swansea University, you can access the Swansea Employability Academy throughout your course and for 18 months AFTER you graduate! They can help with CVs, applications, job seaches and interviews. So if you get stcuk, you know where to go https://www.swansea.ac.uk/sea/ Good luck!