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How to fill in a good application form
First read all the information
Every vacancy has:
- A Job Description sheet, which tells you the duties and responsibilities involved in the role.
- A Person Specification sheet, which lists the essential skills, knowledge and experience we are looking for.
- A Health Declaration Form which will tell you all the details about the post.
You should read all these documents before you begin to complete your application form. To treat everyone as fairly as we can, our selection is based only on the information you give us in your application form.
Now prove yourself
Having read both documents you should be ready to show us how you meet each requirement. Give examples to back up each statement. These examples can be from your current or previous work, voluntary work or personal life.
We genuinely welcome applications from people from all kinds of backgrounds, so you should use all your life experiences when filling in your application form. You can write about:
- voluntary work you have done,
- educational experiences,
- training schemes,
- experiences gained through your personal interests,
- domestic life,
- any jobs that you have done.
We only ask that you focus what you write so that you convince us that you do have the skills we are looking for, no matter where you acquired them.
Try not to just say "I've got good communication skills and good teamwork skills, so I can do the job". Where did you gain your skills? How do you put them to use? How often?
As well as telling us what you have done, you can also tell us something about your views. For example: if we ask for good customer care skills, as well as telling us when and where you have provided customer service, you can also tell us something about what you personally mean by "good" customer service.
Your health and the job requirement
The Health Information sheet tells you about demands of each post which will allow you to decide whether you have any current or past health related problems that may affect your health and safety, or the health and safety of others.
If invited for interview, you will be sent a Health Declaration Form to sign. The information you put on this form will only be looked at if we decide to offer you a post.
At the end of your interview you'll be asked if you need any aids, adaptations or other requirements to help you to do the job. This information does not form part of the assessment process and will only be considered if we are thinking of making you an offer of employment.
The information you give us at this stage of the selection process allows us to explore ways in which the job could be altered to accommodate your needs. This could include changes to the job duties, equipment provided and even adjustments to location/premises.
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