Applying for jobs ..help please

dickydonkin

cally6008 wrote: »

Want to put about admin experience .. past two weeks (at current job), boss n supervisor away so was checking emails, keeping area manager informed of situation, doing lifts on tills, cashing tills up, sorting out going to bank for change, making floats up, working extra hours, dealing with invoice queries (company rang n said our head office not pay them for delivery so had to find invoice etc, confirm delivery had come in), filing stuff away (prints out overnight), being keyholder n locking up

Numeracy - using Excel spreadsheets and financial side of things ? see above paragraph as well.

ECDL qualified as well (not that this may count for much)
Am close to the shop's location, hours/days suit me perfectly

... Just don't know how to word the above

cally6008 - Be careful that you do not overwhelm your covering letter with information that will likely be on your CV. It is generally accepted that one page of A4 is sufficient for an accompanying letter when one is requested.

There are some hints here - a bit 'Americanised' but it may help.

I am sure some HR people will offer information on what they look for and maybe you can use those tips and write an impressive letter!
Good Luck.

Oldernotwiser

cally6008 wrote: »

Want to put about admin experience .. past two weeks (at current job), boss n supervisor away so was checking emails, keeping area manager informed of situation, doing lifts on tills, cashing tills up, sorting out going to bank for change, making floats up, working extra hours, dealing with invoice queries (company rang n said our head office not pay them for delivery so had to find invoice etc, confirm delivery had come in), filing stuff away (prints out overnight), being keyholder n locking up

Numeracy - using Excel spreadsheets and financial side of things ? see above paragraph as well.

ECDL qualified as well (not that this may count for much)
Am close to the shop's location, hours/days suit me perfectly

... Just don't know how to word the above

Isn't all this on your CV? If it isn't, it should be!

Agree totally about the 110%; never say anything as meaningless as this.

bap98189

Rockporkchop wrote: »

Fantastic idea OP - phone up and annoy the person dealing with the vacancy when they have specifically asked for CVs to be posted to them,

I don't agree with that at all. I would be perfectly happy if someone rang up to discuss the job in more detail before applying. Frankly if it shows anything, it shows the person has some initiative and has some interest in the job.

Rockporkchop

bap98189 wrote: »

I don't agree with that at all. I would be perfectly happy if someone rang up to discuss the job in more detail before applying. Frankly if it shows anything, it shows the person has some initiative and has some interest in the job.

Yes, I felt like that at one time but in this climate, when you are getting numerous calls, it does get annoying.

OP sorry if you thought I was trying to knock you down. It is just frustrating when someone is given good advice and then completely ignores it. A lot of the people who post on this board do know what they are talking about, and any advice is given in the hope that it will help that poster succeed with their application.

dickydonkin

bap98189 wrote: »

I don't agree with that at all. I would be perfectly happy if someone rang up to discuss the job in more detail before applying. Frankly if it shows anything, it shows the person has some initiative and has some interest in the job.

Many larger organisations such as local authorities, education sectors etc have dedicated websites where detailed job and person specs are readily accessible.

I would not expect HR personnel from such organisations to be overly pleased by people ringing up about information for a job when the information is already available.

It may be different in smaller companies where limited information has only been made available from a newspaper advertisement.

I can see both sides of the argument, but where a job application specifically stipulates a postal application, then I would certainly abide by that requirement.

Kate78

I think what other posters have said about the current climate is true - it is not an overexaggeration to say that employers receive hundreds of applications for a single post.

Closing dates are much tighter than ever before (sometimes less than a week given) and some employers are withdrawing adverts before that because of the number of applications received.

My best advice is: if the employer asks you email your CV, email your CV. If they want to you fill in an application form online, fill in it in online. If they want you to call them, call them... you get the idea. :rotfl:

A short covering letter will usually suffice, as most of the detail will be in the CV.