can you help with application

girlsmum

not sure what to do here
...i have got an application for a job as finanace assistant/adminitrator at a local nursery.
now reading the job essential bit i have all but one point (they are asking for loads 15 essentials in the person spec) which is Sage Payroll I have used Sage, but never had to do payroll in the past

and under the desirable they have 6 points and i am ok on all of them.

so what do i do fill in the application and ignore that point? or make a point that i have not used it but am willing to learn/go on course etc

Not being funny they seem to be asking for a heck of a lot for a part time job on a wage thats ok but not exceptional. the money is not my issue though


Amanda

djdido2

hiya


don't be put off applying just go for it. explain positively what you have said above and i think you'll do just fine. you wont get it if you don't apply!!

good luck!

jobbingmusician

You've used Sage, so you're halfway there. If you are financially literate, from what I understand payroll is about the easiest thing going. (The people interviewing might not know this, so tell them! Say 'payroll is one of the easiest financial functions, so I am very confident of mastering Sage Payroll VERY quickly, as I already have experience of using Sage'.

filigree_2

I work in HR and we have these lists of "essential" criteria but I'll tell you a little secret - it's a miracle if any of our applicants ever ticks all the boxes! We interview the ones who tick most of the boxes and make the final decision based on their interview - at that stage it's up to you to convince them that you can quickly learn any new skills that are required.

Good luck

Savvy_Sue

Payroll is straightforward if you are methodical (ie do exactly what you are supposed to do) and pay attention to detail (ie don't put decimal points in the wrong place!) so worth playing up your strengths in that area. Also mention any other 'mission-critical' roles you've fulfilled - I've done payroll (not with SAGE!) and you have no choice about whether to do it or not, IYSWIM. This was in a voluntary role, and if I went away for a week, I still had to make sure it happened, and if I didn't feel well, I still had to get it done, because I knew the staff weren't going to be happy if they weren't paid the right amount and on time! :rotfl:

girlsmum

thanks everyone how does this sound???

I have read over the job description and the person specs and feel I have a lot to offer XXX, but willing to learn whenever necessary.
I spent almost 20 years working in an administrative role, so I know how to work methodically, and on many occasions under pressure. I have had to work on my own at the same time belong to a team. All my past experience will benefit XXX.
Since leaving that position I have taken a career break, but during some of this time I have been volunteer treasurer at XXXX nursery.
In my role as treasurer I learnt many things about how the nursery is funded and run, I had to maintain the accounts and reconcile bank statements, I also had to supply information for the charity commission at the end of the nurseries financial year.
I must add however that I have only glanced over sage payroll on a couple of occasion but it is a very simple user friendly programme, so I am very confident of mastering it very quickly, as I already have experience of using Sage.

As a member of the committee I have had to write and speak to parents if the need arose. In these instances confidentiality is paramount.

We have also successfully applied for grants as a committee.

I have spent the last 18 months studying AAT part time at the xxxx xxxx, I passed my NVQ2 in June and currently studying for the NVQ3, the course covers all areas of accountancy the following are the units taken and passed at NVQ level 2

Recording Income and Receipts
Making and recording Payments
Preparing ledger balances and an initial trial balance
Supplying information for management control
Working with computers (sage)
Achieving personal effectiveness
Health and safety

I am also a holder of the full ECDL and know how to use MS office packages.
Recently I have found a new joy in learning so if I need to attend courses I would be more than happy to attend.

As I have a CRB check with the nursery I have on occasions been a parent helper on outings
I am also a catechist at the local church. Where I teach children of around 7-8 years about taking their first holy communion.


should i add or reword it???

jobbingmusician

Here is my re-working of what you wrote. It's a little more formal, and less self-effacing!

By the way, before you submit, do you know the best ever way to submit an application? Take each point in the person specification, and demonstrate how you meet the qualities listed in that point. It makes the work of the shortlisting team so much easier!

OK, I've moved your first para to the end (in case you wonder where it has gone).


I have almost 20 years' experience of working in an administrative role. In this time I have developed methodical working practices and gained valuable experience in working under pressure. I have had to work on my own at the same time belong to a team. All my past experience will benefit XXX.

Since leaving that position I have taken a career break, but during some of this time I have been a volunteer treasurer at XXXX nursery. (in this role, were you a committee member? If so, mention this and tell them that you were responsible as part of the committee for the overall running of the nursery and for employing staff, if this was the case)
In this role as treasurer I gained valuable experience of funding and operation the organisation. I had to maintain the accounts and reconcile bank statements, and to supply information for the Charity Commission at the end of each financial year.

I do not have extensive experience of Sage payroll, but have enough experience to know it to be a simple user friendly programme, so I am very confident of mastering it very quickly, as I already have experience of using Sage.

As a member of the committee I have had to write and speak to parents if the need arose. In these instances confidentiality is paramount. I assume this is addressing a point in the person specification about confidentiality? If so, I would reword as follows. My time as a trustee of the yyy nursery also gave me valuable experience in working within their confidentiality policy, since I had to liaise with parents about a variety of sensitive issues.

We have also successfully applied for grants as a committee.

I have spent the last 18 months studying AAT part time at the xxxx xxxx, I passed my NVQ2 in June and currently studying for the NVQ3. This course covers all areas of accountancy. The units taken and passed at NVQ level 2 are:

Recording Income and Receipts
Making and recording Payments
Preparing ledger balances and an initial trial balance
Supplying information for management control
Working with computers (sage)
Achieving personal effectiveness
Health and safety

I am also a holder of the full ECDL and know how to use MS office packages.
Recently I have found a new joy in learning so if I need to attend courses I would be more than happy to attend.

As I have had a CRB check to enable my work at the nursery I have on occasions been a parent helper on outings. I am also a catechist at the local church. In this role I teach children of around 7-8 years about taking their first holy communion.


I have read over the job description and the person specification and feel I have a lot to offer XXX. Althought I aleady meet virtually all of the person specification, I am willing to learn whenever necessary.


How does that sound? Good luck!

Savvy_Sue

JobbingMusician has made [STRIKE][/STRIKE]some excellent suggestions. Just to add to them ...

I have had to work on my own while at the same time belonging to a team.

funding and operating the organisation - although personally I prefer 'managing' to 'operating'.

I do not have extensive experience of Sage payroll, but have enough experience to know it to be a simple user friendly programme, so I am very confident of mastering it very quickly, as I already have experience of using Sage.I hope JM won't mind if I re-draft that sentence completely, because the use of 3 experiences, 2 Sages and 2 verys so close together offends me deeply ...

Although I do not have direct experience of payroll, I have found Sage a user friendly program and am confident that I will be able to master the basics quickly. I might add something here about being ready to ask for further training if necessary - you don't want to sound as if you know it all already, and payroll's not something you can get wrong too often, and it may turn out to be harder to get the hang of than you expect! And the spelling of program - I use the American version for computer software, and the amme version for concerts and plays. Others may disagree with me, just explaining my spelling there!

Working with computers (sage) Shouldn't Sage have a capital S?

Althought I aleady meet ...There's no 't' on the end of although, and alReady has an R in it. As I'm sure JM knows, and I'm only being picky because it's an application form and it's easy to not spot little things like that and just copy them over!

Stands back for others to spot my typos, for which my defence is using a naff computer!

girlsmum

Thanks to you both i will re work it and send my application in Monday
The worse thing is its a hand written application,....

jobbingmusician

LOL I am a grammatical writer, but a lousy typist! Thanks SS!

girlsmum

******UPDATE*******

thank you all for your wonderful suggestions, i have got a stage further i have an interview next Monday

its down to you

Amanda