Council applications

preciousb

Hi all

Ive just read the person spec of a council job, and i am starting to fill the bit where it asks how you meet the person spec, skills etc.

Does anyone have a sample one that they have been succesful on? I am not going to copy it at all. I just wanted to get a general jist of how it should be written.

How would you start it off? First instance the first bullet point says data collection. Do you just go straight in saying I have had experience of data collected in this....

Also how would you write the answer? Is it based on what it is, what you did and the result?

If anyone has one that they can send to me, i would be greatful.

Thanks

DCFC79

I dont have one but i have a similar question and the way i read it was to structure the answer so it said how you did it in a certain job and if it went well

preciousb

Thanks for the advice. Ive started by saying what i did, and how it helped the goal.

do you know if there is a word limit or an average word limit for the entire section.

Am scared i will waffle on and make it too long.

mazinmouse

I always write it as I would say it face to face. I avoid jargon and use matter of fact language. I answer as if the interviewer was sitting opposite me and had just asked the question. Does it give you a word limit - I don't think they tend to.

I always set my answers out in a table - easy to read so a person hard-pressed for time can see straight away how I match what they are looking for. I type their criteria in left hand column - my experience, skills, knowledge in right hand column.

viktory

I highlight each criteria and respond accordingly. So my application might look like this:

1) Demonstrate ability to use a variety of Word packages

In my current role I use Word for all my documents etc, etc.

preciousb

Thanks for the wonderful advice

I think i will do the same, write the criteria and then answer the question.

Anyone know what Data collection and processing means. I understand Data Collection but what about processing?

Is that how i searched the data?

Thanks

miss_spent

Data processing in my job is putting the data into a useable format - so taking it from questionnaires (in my case), having the data input (or inputting it yourself) into Excel, SPSS or another suitable package and then producing tabulations or tables/charts.

Not sure if that is relevant to this job, but hope it helps!

gilligansyle

For each item on the person spec give an example of how you can demonstrate you have that skill, as in the examples above.

Make sure you use their wording too.

The thing with council jobs is they get 100's of applications for jobs, so make it easier for them to put you on the 'keep' pile. They can be very rigid in applying criteria. I once had to refuse an interview for someone who I knew could do the job, met all the points etc. But he hadn't put it on the form.

preciousb

Thanks i really appreciate it. I am trying my best to sell myself in this section lol. Am not rushing it either. Usually i try and do it all in one day but i decided to take 4 days over the entire application so i can double check what i write and hope that it makes sense.

gilligansyle

preciousb wrote: »

Thanks for the wonderful advice

I think i will do the same, write the criteria and then answer the question.

Anyone know what Data collection and processing means. I understand Data Collection but what about processing?

Is that how i searched the data?

Thanks

Processing is how you used the data.

So for example you may have input information into a database/spreadsheet and then produced reports or charts from the data.

preciousb

Hey all, didn't want to create a new thread

But i got an interview with for a job i want with another company i applied for a few days ago!

Finally after trying for months and months i got an interview for a job that i actually want.

will keep applying though, especially with this council one but just had to share the news!

I nearly lost faith altogether lol