The application process
Applications: the golden rules
In the following section, we reinforce some dos and don’ts, but above all, the important thing is to just get started!
T
he golden rules when it comes to applying are: One: Sell yourself
Two: Don’t fib! That’s it! Okay, so we might need to cover a little more ground before you dash off your application forms. But honestly, keep those points front and centre and you’re already off to a good start!
Now, those two ‘rules’ may, at first glance, appear to contradict each other, but it is entirely possible to achieve rule one without straying into rule two; this is where you may find the help of a parent, guardian, teacher, or trusted adult can come in handy.
As with any CV or application, it’s not enough to say what experience and Saturday jobs you’ve had. When it comes to mentioning said Saturday job, you’ll need to describe the benefits that you and your employer and your fellow colleagues all enjoyed as a result of you carrying out the job so well! And often you’ll need to that within a word limit. Or it may be how you and your fellow students, family or community group
reaped rewards from the voluntary activity or hobby or leisure pursuit you’re involved in. It sounds so obvious, but it’s something you can often overlook when you’re talking about yourself… let’s face it, often it’s far harder to be your own cheerleader than someone else’s. If you can find someone you trust – and you know has your best interests at heart – to bring their outside point of view on how you can promote yourself, they may offer insights you hadn’t even thought of.
Time is another significant element. Factor in enough of it – plenty of it, in fact – as much as you can. In short: don’t leave your application to the last minute! Easier said than done, isn’t it? As with any mammoth, and daunting, task, breaking it down and planning is key. If you set aside a certain amount of time to go over the application process, the temptation to put it off indefinitely will diminish. Sometimes, however, it helps to just get on and start!
Top Tip: If the company or course provider you’re applying to stipulate
something (a word limit, for instance, or the deadline for applying, or if there’s a particular format you need to send your application in) then it is, and we cannot say this strongly enough – absolutely essential that you follow this. Falling at the first hurdle won’t make a good impression and it will single your application out as an easy one to go on the reject pile – especially if there’s a shortlist already or a lot of people apply for that role or place on a course. Sorry to be brutal, but this really is somewhere you can help yourself, so don’t give anyone an excuse to discount your application.
With a well-crafted and considered (and honest!) application under your belt, you’re hopefully looking at an offer or an interview. When it comes to being interviewed, rules one and two are still absolutely paramount here, as is doing some groundwork before the big day, whether it’s about the role/company or the institution. Now will be the time to carry out some all-important research. It’s fair to say that preparation is everything.
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