Demonstrating skills ....

top_drawer_2

Hello,

I'm trying to complete an appl form and struggling, its my first one in a while and it asks for me to show how I have displayed certain behavior in the past from either my professional/personal life. Please could anyone comment on what I have so far and make any suggestions for the ones I am struggling with. Ta

Here to Help


I was in XXXX Library afternoon in the computer area where a young man was using the computer. He had already scanned many pages of a document into the computer but I could hear he was getting quite frustrated with the computer. I asked if he was ok and he muttered that yes he was fine, then signed again and said no he couldnt get the attachment he had just scanned and attached to an email to send. There didnt seem to be anything wrong but it wouldnt send no matter what he did!

I had a look and could see that the attachment was too large at over 25 MB as he had saved it as a picture file. I helped him to re-scan the document and showed how to save it as a JPEG so it could be sent by email as he wished.

Innovative

I attended a day of workshops and courses as part of a local day, one of these was an introductory to Improv Comedy which I enjoyed so much I undertook a 8-week course.

I enjoyed it so much but found the travelling to XXXX very time consuming and that I need to improve my confidence to be able to fully participate. I felt that meeting a wider range of people and doing tasks that would be challanging to me would be hugely beneficial. I contacted a local provider who host a night each month at a comedy club and asked if I could be involved as a volunteer in some way. Evey month I help people to find their tables, help with tickets sales and promote the night through local media by writing reviews, updating blogs ....

Open and Honest

My role at work is very wide ranging; tasks can be domestic related, writing reports or speaking with professionals to managing a clients challanging behavior through restraint. The latter has become more common more recently due to a particular client residing with the organisation. I have spoken to my manager about this and stated that I feel that my skills lie in more practical/caring role and that I along with others would appreciate further training to develop skills in this area.

I'm struggling with:
Efficient and Businesslike
Pride in our Council
One Team One Council

Thanks

jobbingmusician

Hope you get lots of replies. Here's my take on things.

Here to Help - great

Innovative - your second paragraph is interesting, but doesn't demonstrate innovation. I would say

I attended a day of workshops and courses as part of a local day, one of these was an introductory to Improv Comedy which I enjoyed so much I undertook a 8-week course. Improvisation has really benefited my working skills, as I find I am able to think more laterally, and this has led to creative and successful solutions to problems (insert short example here if you can think of one!)


Efficient and Businesslike

I can always be relied on to complete tasks to a deadline, involving colleagues appropriately and presenting my work in a polished and professional way. In my last job I changed [this way of doing things, which resulted in an improvement in my workplace because... Even if it's a tiny example like buying stamps en masse at Superdrug when they are on discount to save the company money!]

Pride in our Council

If you are a local resident, say so, and say how you feel the council affects people's lives. If you're not, look on their website, and use one of the things they are obviously proud of doing recently as an example of how good practice can affect the lives of local people.

One Team One Council

Talk about how great you are at teamwork, with an example. [I found that accounts receivable had no idea what accounts payable were doing. We all went out bowling, and I discovered that people learnt far more about each other's jobs in one informal night out than by sitting in adjacent offices for the past 5 years]

OneYorkshireLass

He signed again?

What's the afternoon got to do with the library?

I wouldn't talk about needing to improve confidence IMO.

More common more recently - I'd drop a 'more'.

that I feel that - drop the second 'that'.

Yorkie1

Avoid exclamation marks.

heretolearn_2

Hi

You really have to try and narrow down to a strong example of the quality they are looking for, and keep your explanation concise and to the point. Cut the waffle and really dig for a relevant example.

Here to Help

I was in visiting X library in the computer area, where a man was having problems after scanning many documents and I could hear he was getting frustrated. I offered to help and found he couldn't get the attachment he had just scanned and attached to an email to send. I could see that the attachment was too large, at over 25 MB, as he had saved it as a picture file. I helped him to re-scan the document and showed him how to save it as a JPEG so it could be sent by email as he wished.

Innovative
Your example doesn't show innovation to me, sorry, it's personal development. It's interesting experience if you can cut the waffle, concentrate on the skills relevant to work, and find somewhere else for it in your application. Voluntary work section in your CV? Innovation - have you recommended a change to a system? Come up with a good idea for your workplace? Brought in something new? Been involved in implementing some sort of change at work? Found a cheaper supplier off your own back? Re-arranged reception to work more effectively or give a better impression to customers? Anything?

Open and Honest. Too much waffle before they get to your point.
I have spoken to my manager about a skills gap in my organisation relating to X and stated that I feel that my skills lie in more practical/caring roles and that I, along with others, would appreciate further training to develop skills in this area.

I'm struggling with:
Efficient and Businesslike - compliance with systems and procedures... professional approach to clients and colleagues...how you handle deadlines and priorities work when busy...
Pride in our Council - tough one - unless you have any specific examples of when you have represented your department/place of work etc, I think you have to go generic here and talk about how you are aware of your responsibilities and always try to be a positive ambassador for X.
One Team One Council - no idea! presumably some in-house scheme - look it up and then prepare a short statement about how you fully support the aims of the scheme and try to bring elements into your daily work (teamwork with colleagues/other departments?)

browneyedbazzi

What is the role that you are applying for and have you had a similar role elsewhere in the past?

top_drawer_2

Its an Equalities Officer in a Council.
I've not had a similar role in the past. I've just booked an appt with the careers service with the uni I graduated from.
Jenny