2000 words on why I want the job!

KiKi

deedee71 wrote: »

Despite Kiki's disbelief applicants are expected to write in great details about every aspect of their character and technical ability. My career has always been in the private sector and I was curious if this is the norm in the public sector.

I've spent 13 years in the public sector, in HR - hence not my 'disbelief' but my understanding of how the government (esp central and departments) advertise jobs.

I may not have seen this specific application, but I know how they're structured and yes - they ask questions with lots of detail because it's designed to help you write the correct things. Lots of people - believe it or not - do not answer the questions asked. This is to help you / make sure that you do put the right sort of information they're asking for, so on each question they put a series of other questions / suggestions as to what you should answer. You rarely have to answer every one. It is absolute the norm to set max word count and put the words on the online app to ensure that you don't go over.

I just think it's a real shame you're missing out on a potential job you're interested in because you're determined to believe that you have to write 2000 words and not that it's the max. Your call, though!

KiKi

deedee71

Fair enough Kiki, I guess it's the bizarre way HR minds work then. I'll send off what I've filled in and see what happens. Thanks.

embob74

I've had a few applications which have required detailed descriptions
of how I have handled certain situations or how my skills match up to the job description - mostly the jobs have been ones in the public sector.

I applied for an office job and was asked to show how I would compile a complaint letter to a supplier, set up a database and lots of other things which involved a great deal of my time.
I did it all and was pleased with the result as it showcased exactly what I could really do. I got offered the job and I think it was largely due to this effort and the fact they could see what I could do rather than me telling them what I thought I could do.

Final_Days

I'd just write what you can in order to cover all the bases mentioned in the job specification and stop when you're done rather than filling it full of waffle and padding to meet whatever target you think has been set.

I also think that the figure you mention is just the maximum number of words accepted by the text box into which you're typing rather than the number of words required.

PasturesNew

"2000 words on why I want the job!"

Winner of the Taking the P155 Award of the Month

hcb42

I wouldnt think it would be very hard to answer that question - providing you want the job of course!

Mr_Smith_3

Acc72 wrote: »

If you can't be bothered to fill out an application form then why should a company be bothered to offer you a job ?

:rotfl: :rotfl:

deedee71

Well I submitted the application. There were 9 core competencies to tailor the application to. Apparently if you meet 5 of the 9 your application will be considered.

They didn't even ask how many years experience I had (or how long I had worked in each job) - I could have been in a job 5 minutes and be very good at writing applications and they wouldn't even know it until the interview.

Final_Days

I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really (and so on) want this job!

**Juice**

For a recent role I've had to send in a CV, then fill in a HUGE application, then attend a first interview, then attend a second interview where they're doing assessments, asking for a presentation, further interview questions, then lunch with the team (and probs the other candidates) - it's all part of the jumping through hoops to get a job and if you want it you just have to go along with it and hope your efforts aren't in vain. I agree it's a bit of a pest though!