1. “How to find a job?” – For people with disabilities
2. Summary
“How to find a job?” aims to help people with disabilities in their search for a job. It consists of
ten main sections which cover different aspects of the job seeking process. The introduction
provides detailed information of the goals and the people that this course is for.
In the next section named “Why am I a good candidate for the job you offer?” we give some
suggestions that aim at increasing motivation and self‐confidence, while the part “Assessment of
my skills” is dedicated to providing a deeper and more objective knowledge of skills and
competences. It also helps to illustrate, prove and develop existing strengths by tools especially
created for this purpose.
In order to realise which career is the best for you, you will probably need a clear, well‐structured
strategy. Two options that you could use are presented in the part “How to choose the best
career for me?”
The next section is “The job interview”. It will help you with some general tips and information
that will be useful to know In advance when preparing for and going to an interview. This is
followed by the chapter that provides information on how to prepare a good CV, what to include
and how, etc.
The final section of the course has suggestions on job seeking strategies and useful tips and links
that will be of help to the job seeker.
For a better understanding of the theoretical material, each section features tools, exercises,
examples and templates which will enable you to better evaluate your progress and put the
theory into practice.
3. Table of contents
Table of contents ........................................................................................................................ 3
1. Introduction........................................................................................................................ 4
2. Why am I the good candidate for the job you offer? ........................................................ 5
2.1. Simulation exercise .................................................................................................... 5
2.2. TOOL for finding some more advantages concerning your disadvantaged position. 7
3. Assessment of my skills ...................................................................................................... 8
3.1. First self‐assessment tool ........................................................................................... 8
3.2. Second self‐assessment tool .................................................................................... 10
3.3. List of core competencies ........................................................................................ 12
3.4. Personal experiences with core skills ....................................................................... 14
3.5. Developing core skills ............................................................................................... 16
4. How to choose the best career for me ............................................................................ 19
4.1. Begin with your values ............................................................................................. 19
4.2. Identify your skills and talents ................................................................................. 20
4.3. Identify your preferences ......................................................................................... 20
4.4. Experiment ............................................................................................................... 20
4.5. A catalogue of options ............................................................................................. 20
5. The job interview.............................................................................................................. 23
5.1. How to prepare the job interview ............................................................................ 23
5.2. Typical questions asked during the interview.......................................................... 23
5.3. How to act during the job interview ........................................................................ 28
6. How to write a CV (practical tools) .................................................................................. 32
6.1. Why do you need a CV? ........................................................................................... 32
6.2. Contents ................................................................................................................... 32
7. Other useful documents................................................................................................... 39
7.1. Application form....................................................................................................... 39
7.2. Cover letters ............................................................................................................. 46
8. Job searching strategies ................................................................................................... 51
8.1. Resources for searching of a job .............................................................................. 51
8.2. Action plan ............................................................................................................... 52
8.3. Revealing the secret ................................................................................................. 54
9. Useful Tips while searching for the best job for you ....................................................... 57
10. Useful sites ................................................................................................................... 58
10.1. Employment sites ................................................................................................. 58
10.2. Further help for disadvantages and disabilities ................................................... 58
4.
1. Introduction
“How to find a job?” is an e‐learning system designed to help people with disabilities in their
search for a job.
We address people with specific needs such as:
People with disabilities (either physical or mental)
Disadvantaged people facing various obstacles:
Social: discrimination because of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, single
parents, etc.
Economic obstacles
Educational difficulties ‐ early school leavers, school drop‐outs, people with no or few
formal qualifications
Geographical obstacles ‐ people from remote areas, living in peripheral regions, from
urban problem zones or from less serviced areas
Elderly people (either at pre‐pension or post‐pension age)
The main objective of the training course “How to find a job?” is to provide these people with:
useful, summarised information on some important issues, concerning the process of job
seeking by people with disabilities. This information includes ways of composing
documents for a job application, job seeking strategies, additional sources of information
via useful links, tips for good self‐presentation during the interview and also after you find
a job;
exercises and examples that provide you on the one hand with feedback as to what
extent you are ready to use the theoretical information and on the other hand will help
you put the theoretical knowledge into practice;
tools, that help you :
o assess your skills and present them in the best way to the employer,
o identify all the resources you could use,
o choose the best career according to your skills, resources and preferences, and
o outline an action plan and the best individual strategy for you.
5. 2. Why am I the good candidate for the job you offer?
While there is a shortage of qualified or loyal personnel nowadays, and it is getting harder and
harder for the employers to find and keep their employees, part of the population drops out of
the labour market because of their disabilities, social background, or age. According to the
United Nations estimates 500 million people1 in the world today have disabilities. Although the
figure may vary in different countries and according to different definitions, the WHO (World
Health Organisation) estimates that 10% of any given population is disabled2. In addition there is
an important tendency marked in previous reports of the EU27 which states that by 2050 the
number of people over 50 in Europe will have doubled to 40% of the total population or 60% of
the working age population3.
While employers are hesitant, statistics do show that people with disabilities are more inclined to
improve their knowledge and develop their skills to a greater degree than others, and are more
loyal to their employers. Equally, other surveys indicate that compared with other workers,
workers with disabilities for example are more reliable, more punctual, more productive, make
fewer requests and take fewer medical leaves4.
So, what does my future employer gain when he/she hires me?
A motivated employee, willing to prove himself/herself at the work place;
A devoted person, used to overcoming various types of difficulties in his/her life;
A long‐lasting investment since such a person is more likely to stay for a longer period of
time ( e.g. IT companies sometimes even insist on hiring people with disabilities because
all of their ex‐employees after being trained, moved to other companies abroad);
By hiring you your employer could gain some additional financial benefits (by getting
reduction of taxes for example).
2.1. Simulation exercise
Let me now introduce to you Mr. Frank Jobson who needs to expand the number of his staff.
Usually during an interview he asks the applicants questions like these:
1
http://www.aaas.org
2
http://www.hesperian.info/assets/GHW/C2.pdf
3
http://www.adults‐mentoring.eu/?pid=4
4
http://www.abilities.org/WIT
6.
(You could choose some of the options given or provide your own free answer.)
1. If I hire you what kind of worker will you be?
A. Hard working because I am used to making a lot of effort in order to achieve my goals.
B. Careful and precautious since I had to take into consideration a lot of factors concerning
the problems I had.
C. Organised because in order to overcome the barriers in front of me I needed to plan each
activity I was to undertake
D. ________________________________________
2. Are you a hard‐working person?
_________________________________________
3. Besides your everyday duties, what other contribution could you have to the working
atmosphere in the company?
A. I am a good listener and understand other people’s needs.
B. I am a creative person and with a lot of interests and I can communicate easily with
different people even ones that are found to be difficult to work with.
C. I can work very well in a team because I needed an assistant and we had to work
together.
D. __________________________________________
4. Has your disadvantaged position helped you before? How did it help you?
____________________________________________
5. Why should I choose you?
A. I am a flexible person used to searching for ways to overcome barriers and find solutions
in difficult situations.
B. I am used to working under pressure due to the difficulties encountered in my family
status (single parent for example)
C. Since I come from another country and to some extent I am different I am used to
working with people who are different in a way
D. ____________________________________________
7. 2.2. TOOL for finding some more advantages concerning your
disadvantaged position
Sometimes it is not so easy to see and realise all of our advantages we are too concerned with
the different barriers in our way. Things may slightly change however if we have time to think
carefully and at ease about the possible positive sides of the present situation. In order to help
you in this process which takes some time we suggest you do the following exercise:
Please finish the following sentence: I am the good choice for my future employer
because____________________
1. I would like a permanent, long‐lasting job position.
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________
4. __________________________________
5. __________________________________
Try to fill all the spaces. If you want, you can go on adding more points.
GOOD LUCK!
8. 3. Assessment of my skills
Think that you've probably got lots of skills you're not aware of. Identifying your skills can help
you think about the right job for you.
Sometimes it is quite hard to objectively and impartially evaluate your own skills since when
speaking about ourselves we may be inclined either to under‐estimate or over‐estimate our
skills.
When applying for a job it is essential to have not only knowledge on what you can do, but also
how to present and prove it.
3.1. First self‐assessment tool
The following tool will help you in two directions: it will assist you in finding skills you have not
been aware of, and at the same time it will provide you with good examples that could support
your self ‐presentation.
Step 1. Choose an event, activity, achievement etc.
Example:
Accomplished course or training
A club or an organisation you have taken part in
A challenge you have dealt with
An ex‐job
A sport achievement
Step 2. How did you make this achievement? What skill did you use?
Think of the event that you described in step 1. Which skills did you use to reach the final result?
Did you acquire other skills during the process of the event? You may investigate the different
skills from different angles.
Did you use skill on the basis of academic knowledge?
What personal skills did you use (based on your personal experience)?
Did you have to take into consideration other problems such as the various interests of
different organisations or people involved in the situation?
Were you different in the end? If yes, in what way?
Step 3. Making a list of skills and qualities
After analysing one aspect of your experience, you can do the same for other events and
compose a list which you can edit and update whenever you feel you have acquired a new skill.
9. You can select the most appropriate skills for the job you have chosen. It may also help you see if
you need some further training or education.
Skill and Proof of it How did you develop this skill in other
situations?
Print out this table in order to use it in the future.
Step 4. Define your strong and weak sides
Look at the qualities and skills you have enlisted. Which type of them predominates? In which
sphere do you feel more confident? For which skills do you have more evidence?
My strongest field is:
Write down your three strongest skills:
If you are not quite sure about your best skills, you may think about the profession you would
like to practise.
Your future employers would like to see that you are aware of your skills but they would also
want you to be able to realise some of your weaknesses.
My weak sides:
10.
Writ down at least three weak points of yours:
1.
2.
3.
This will help you identify each field in which you need further development.
Step 5. Review of your progress.
Look at the list of skills and evidence for them in step 3 and compare it with the exercise you did
in the motivation section: I am the best candidate for the job you offer because _________. You
will probably have a lot of other suggestions to finish this statement.
3.2. Second self‐assessment tool
Here’s a list of the most demanded and important skills in the professional environment, known
in the USA as SCANS skills5. SCANS skills are made up of five competencies (resources,
interpersonal, information, systems and technology) and three foundation skills (basic skills,
thinking skills, and personal qualities). Going through this list, be sure to note the skills that
belong to you and why; the list you’ll have made in the end will be your passport to self‐
assessment! The reasons why you think the competencies or skills belong to you are very
important, is they will provide evidence when you have to prove to your future interviewer why
you think you actually have these competencies/skills. To make this task easier, we have
provided you with a table at the end of the description of the different skills and competencies.
The five competencies6
Resources
I allocate time
I allocate money
I allocate material and facility resources
I allocate human resources
Interpersonal
I participate as a member of a team
I teach others
I serve clients/customers
I exercise leadership
I negotiate
5
Based on information provided on http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/.
6
Based on information provided on http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/.
11. I work with cultural diversity
Information
I acquire and evaluate information
I organise and maintain information
I interpret and communicate information
I use computers to process information
Systems
I understand systems
I monitor and correct performance
I improve and design systems
Technology
I select technology
I apply technology to task
I maintain and troubleshoot technology
The three foundation skills
Basic skills
reading
writing
mathematics (arithmetical computation and mathematical reasoning)
listening
speaking
Thinking skills
creative thinking
making decisions
solving problems
seeing things in the mind's eye
knowing how to learn
reasoning
Personal qualities
individual responsibility
self‐esteem
sociability
self‐management
integrity
12. Here you can specify which skill/competency you used, and describe precisely the
situation in which you used it
Resources
Interpersonal
Information
Systems
Technology
Basic skills
Thinking skills
Personal qualities
3.3. List of core competencies
You can also use the previous table and fill it in with the following core competencies, which
present another point of view, slightly different.
Communication
taking part in discussions with colleagues/friends
verbally explaining ideas to others
composing/writing reports
reading and understanding others’ reports/accounts of events
giving/receiving information on the phone
instructing others verbally and in writing
13. expressing opinions
describing situations in work and personal life
constructing and understanding graphic information
making applications
Numeracy
performing calculations
accurately measuring
balancing accounts
effective personal budgeting
sending/receiving invoices
controlling, ordering and dispatching components/stock
Problem Solving
accessing valid facts/information
organising and using information
using correct tools
identifying solutions
designing solutions
adapting personal skills in new situations
overcoming difficulties/challenges
effective planning
carrying out plans
identifying suitable resources/support
Working with Others
joint ventures
design or manufacturing teams
assembly line involvement
work squads
office teams
supporting/assisting colleagues
sharing study investigations
group projects
collective organisation of tasks
assisting with family requirements
duties as part of an organisation
taking personal responsibility in shared tasks
Using Information Technology
14. computerised stock control
word processing
computer/video links
controlled entry and security systems
robotic control
sending fax messages
desktop publishing
computer aided drawing
Refer to the above lists to help identify:
your own experiences with core skills
ways to develop your core skills
You can note experiences and development methods on the following pages.
3.4. Personal experiences with core skills
Recognising and recording experiences with core skills is useful when:
communicating with others about your abilities (making applications; interview and appraisal
situations);
transferring your skills to new situations (dealing with challenges in work and personal life);
and
identifying development methods.
Personal experiences with core skills can be recorded in the areas provided below.
Communication ‐ examples
I give monthly reports, written and verbal, to my line manager.
I use sign language to communicate with colleagues and friends.
I compose letters to prospective customers to advertise our financial services.
I give advice to customers as part of my duties in a DIY store.
As a receptionist, I am usually the first line of contact with our company’s customers.
Here in the provided space you can give your own communication examples or use some of the
already given ones if you find they refer to you. You can follow the same procedure with the rest
of the core skills as well.
Communication
15. Numeracy ‐ examples
I follow graphic and written instructions when fitting kitchen units.
I measure floor areas and calculate carpet prices.
I balance the family budget on a weekly basis.
I have joint responsibility for controlling amounts of stock components in a parts
department of a car dealership.
I work in a supermarket checkout handling cash.
Numeracy
Problem solving ‐ examples
I helped design and build a wheelchair ramp for my neighbour.
I researched and obtained the correct information about tax legislation to assist our
company’s accountant.
I used my experience in catering to organise the community centre senior citizens’ dinner.
I completed the holiday rota in our office to everyone’s satisfaction.
Problem solving
Working with others ‐ examples
My nursing job involves a great deal of co‐operation with other members of the hospital
staff.
As a worker in the construction industry, I take responsibilities as part of a team to enable
time deadlines to be met and safety standards to be maintained.
My fellow students and I successfully organised and completed a group project and
presentation as part of our degree course.
To care for an elderly parent, I share responsibilities with other family members.
16. Working with Others
Using Information Technology ‐ examples
I am presently taking a course to gain a qualification in computer aided drawing.
I use a computer for our family business’s accounts.
I use a computer terminal to access stock availability in an electrical retail store.
I am responsible for e‐mail messages as part of my responsibilities at work.
Using Information Technology
3.5. Developing core skills
Different people require different ‘levels’ of core skills. Activities in work, future aspirations,
interests and hobbies, and situations faced in personal life can determine the core skills
development needs of an individual. Referring to the core skills activities and situations in the
previous pages, your personal experiences with core skills and the ideas shown below can help
when identifying methods to develop core skills.
Ideas for core skills development – you may think of others which will help you make use of the
core skills in a greater degree.
Communication
Assume you have had problems on a recent holiday, e.g. travel, hotel, food.
Compose a letter to the holiday company which clearly explains the experiences you
encountered.
17. Also make a list of relevant points which could be used to support a telephone
conversation on the same subject.
Consider, and note, the responses you would expect from the company.
Numeracy
List all your cash expenditure over a one week period.
Calculate the percentage each item on the list takes of your total expenditure.
Review the list to decide if any savings or adjustments can be made to your expenditure.
This task can be expanded to include your entire personal or family budget.
Numeracy and Problem Solving are involved in the planning of your personal or family budget.
In many situations different core skills are used together.
Problem Solving
Assume you are thinking of applying for a part time job or taking up a new hobby / activity.
Consider where you might find information or support for this.
Think of the factors to be taken into account – family and other commitments, time
availability and any other areas of your life that would be affected.
Note these factors and how you might organise your new situation around them.
Working with Others
Identify a situation in your employment or personal life which involves co‐operating with other
people.
Review and note your contribution to the situation.
Think of ways you might enhance your contribution.
Prepare notes to help negotiate the enhancement.
Carry out the negotiations.
Using Information Technology
If you currently use IT in your personal life or employment, find out about available courses or
training which could raise your level of competence or develop another branch of IT.
These could be: at a college; in open learning format; ‘in house’ training opportunities from your
employer.
If you have little or no experience with IT, you can contact a career counsellor for advice about
the best IT course for you.
If you prefer to introduce yourself to IT or seek improvement without taking a course or
training, then following guidelines could be helpful:
find availability and negotiate access to a computer (or other equipment as appropriate),
set aside a specific period of time on a regular basis for practice,
ask a more experienced IT user for advice on tasks you should attempt,
ask for a trainer who is well‐prepared to work with people with disabilities (the most
important factor here is the trainer to be acquainted with your needs not his/her formal
qualifications).
18. The following sections may be used to note personal core skills development needs and possible
methods for achievement.
Strengths and skills
Identify the things you do well – use these to help other aspects of your development
Everything you do adds to your personal store of strengths and
skills. You probably possess many more than you believe.
The way you manage your life requires skills:
Budgeting your personal or family finances.
Organising time for work, travel, leisure, education, chores. WHAT DO
Skills you use in home based and spare time activities.
YOU DO?
Taking decisions which affect your own and others’ futures.
Personal qualities you display are important strengths. Are you:
a good listener to other people? WHAT
punctual most of the time? SKILLS DO
responsible when supervising children or others? YOU USE?
You can use the area on the next page to record your strengths and skills.
solving problems
satisfying customers
Tactful
Examples well – organised oral and written communication
Planning independent repairing items
working with others determined numeracy
presentation skills honest cooking
designing and making clean driving licence
persistent
languages ambitious
using Information Technology
first aid
19. 4. How to choose the best career for me
4.1. Begin with your values
Your values are those things that are most important for you. One question you could ask
yourself in order to find your values is “what do I like doing so much I would almost feel guilty
getting paid for?” A job you will feel fully satisfied with will make a high match between your
personal values and the everyday tasks performed.
Finding your values
Directions: Place a check next to the five values that are most important to you7.
Being an advocate for others
Having a sense of humour
Being a leader
Having close friends
Being competitive
Having community relationships
Being famous
Having enough time for myself and my work
Being free to do what I want
Having financial security
Being loyal to others
Having good self‐esteem
Being physically and mentally well
Having inner peace
Being responsible for my own actions
Having power or control over others
Being wealthy
Helping others
Collaborating/working as a team
Mastering a skill
Discovering knowledge and wisdom
Nurturing others
Embracing diversity (understand and accept cultures and individual and group
differences)
Participating (giving time and talents)
Receiving credit for my work
Focusing on the meaning of life (religious beliefs and spiritual issues)
Taking risks
Giving and receiving love and care
Using my imagination
Having a feeling of tranquillity
7
The list is taken from http://www.headstartinfo.org/pdf/participating_management/Handout9.pdf
20. The next step is to arrange the list according your priority. When you’re done, you will gain a
clearer sense of what is important to you, and this will help you focus on jobs that align with your
deep aspirations.
4.2. Identify your skills and talents
A skill is something you've learned to do. A talent is something you were born with, or at least
that you seem naturally able to do. You may be skilled at something but not find it interesting.
However, chances are that if you are naturally talented at something, that particular talent will
match your values. Not only that, but you will be more keen to enjoy doing what you do well
naturally than what you have simply been taught to do. 8
4.3. Identify your preferences
Since we were children, we have approached the world with certain personal preferences ‐ how
we perceive others, how we think and make decisions, whether we prefer people or things, and
the extent to which we need to control each aspect of our lives. These preferences strongly
influence the way we function with others. Some questions may help: Do you regard yourself as
highly intuitive? Are you outgoing or reserved? When faced with a decision, do you rely primarily
on facts or feelings? Your answers to these questions can tell you much about the type of work
you will find interesting and adapted to you.
One way to approach your preferences is from the pleasure point of view, and the questions you
would have to ask yourself would then be: what brings me the most pleasure to do? What do I
do in my spare time, in my free moments? This reflection can possibly join the one on your
values, as you will obviously take pleasure in fulfilling tasks in accordance with your values.
It’s important to go further in the reflection than simply filling the list. If I love going to the
mountain, I have to ask myself why. In my case, I love going to the mountain to feel the fresh air
and the sun touch my skin. Therefore, I can assume that if I have to work in an office all day in a
dark room I won’t last long in that job.
4.4. Experiment
Experience cannot be replaced, the more the better. If you're new to the job market or if you are
considering a career change, get out and talk to people who are actually experiencing it. Try
working in the field you wish and see for yourself if it's really what you thought it would be. And
don't rely on a single authority or work experience. If you're wanting to find out about a certain
career, you may want to consider volunteering in order to gain work experience. That way, you'll
be able to test out whether it fits your values and preferences. If you aren't getting paid to do it,
chances are you won't stay with it unless you like it.
If you still have difficulties in defining the best career for you, try another strategy:
4.5. A catalogue of options
To help you adequately evaluate your career opportunities we suggest you the following:
8
As mentioned on topten.org/content/tt.AB6.htm.
21. 1. Write down all the career options you have
a) ____________ e) ____________
b) ____________ f) ____________
c) ____________ g) ____________
d) ____________ h) ____________
2. Make a list of all the requirements for each option ‐ what skills are needed, what knowledge or
experience are expected from you. It may take some time to search for the necessary
information.
For example: Office assistant ‐ Good computer skills
‐ English language
‐ Communicative skills
‐ To know how to work with office appliances
3. Match each requirement with proof (evidence) which shows that you are right for the position.
This exercise will contribute to your ability of self‐presentation which is really important when
writing a CV, covering letter or during an interview.
Example: Office assistant ‐ Good computer skills: I have a certificate from a course proving that I
know how to work with Windows, Word and Excel. I have a computer at home and compose all
my materials on it.
‐ English language: I have studied in an English Language School.
‐ I have very good communication skills which I developed while working as a shop
assistant for six months. If necessary I can present a reference from my employer.
‐ To know how to work with office appliances: I know how to work with a computer
and a photocopier which I needed while I was a student
You could also use the following table:
Career options: Requirements: Proof / Example
Office assistant ‐Good computer skills ‐ Good computer skills: I have a
certificate from a course proving
that I know how to work with
Windows, Word and Excel. I have a
computer at home and compose
all my materials on it
‐English language ‐English language: I have studied in
22. an English Language School.
‐ Communicative skills ‐ I have very good communicative
skills which I developed while
working as a shop assistant for six
months. If necessary I can present
a reference from my employer.
‐ To know how to work with office
‐ To know how to work with appliances : I know how to work
with a computer and a
office appliances
photocopier which I needed while
I was a student
… … …
After you fill the table, look at the third column. Its most complete cell will probably direct you to
the best career option.
The process of choosing a career
1. Get to know yourself. You should make sure that you know your skills and competences and
that you are aware of your weaknesses and strengths. Here you may consult the section “Assess
your skills”
2. Match your skills with the requirements for the desired career
3. After you choose several options for a career, search for useful information about the chosen
sphere‐ You can look at the resources for searching for a job section.
4. Develop your self‐presentation skills that will help you sell yourself by a CV, application form
or an interview (you can look for information concerning this point at the section” How to choose
a career?”)
5. Outline a concrete action plan (Action plan section)
23. 5. The job interview9
5.1. How to prepare for the job interview
Different kinds of interviews
If you've not had an interview for a while, it's worth knowing that organisations use different
types of interview for different types of job. Some of the most common are:
Competency‐based
These interviews focus on the skills and attributes needed for the job. You'll have to relate your
skills and experience to the job in question.
Technical
These are for technical positions such as IT or engineering jobs. You will probably be asked to
display your technical knowledge of a certain process or skill. They may ask you to do this by
talking about your previous experience or by asking you hypothetical questions, such as "what
would you do if you were working on this project?"
Face‐to‐face
This is where the interviewer meets with the candidate in person.
Telephone
Some organisations use these as the first stage of screening. You may be warned in advance or
contacted out of the blue. First impressions count, so you should prepare for a telephone
interview just as much as you would for a face‐to‐face interview. But unless it takes place on a
videophone, you won't need to put your interview suit on!
Panel
This is an interview where more than one person interviews you. Usually, one person chairs the
interview and panel members take it in turns to ask you different questions. You should direct
your answer mainly towards the panel member that asked the question.
5.2. Typical questions asked during the interview
Your skills:
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
What would your colleagues and friends say your best qualities were?
Why should we hire you?
What the interviewer really wants to know: They want to know if you can do the job.
9
Most of the chapter inspired from www.learndirect‐advice.co.uk with the permission of the authors.
24. Know your strengths, and mention ones that are relevant to the job you're being interviewed for.
It's important to quote examples of when you used the skills; it's not enough to just say you have
the skills. Typical strengths employers look for are:
Communication ‐ the ability to get on with a wide range of people. For example, your
disadvantage has often led you to meet and collaborate with other people, sometimes
met in the street. You have therefore developed skills in initiating contact with unknown
people. This could be pertinent to physical handicaps or impairments, as well as social
and linguistic differences.
Team working ‐ the ability to be an effective team leader or team member
IT skills ‐ most jobs these days need some IT skills. For example, if you’re physically
handicapped, you have maybe developed IT skills as you could have stayed longer at
home (or indoor) than the average person.
Good attitude ‐ hard worker, honest, polite, co‐operative. For example, you could explain
that because of your disadvantage, you are used to working harder to show your abilities.
Problem solving ‐ using your initiative to identify solutions. For example, you can stress
the fact that your disadvantage has confronted you through your whole life with
problems to solve, and this has trained you to identify solutions.
Enthusiasm ‐ employers like someone positive
Quick learner ‐ so you can take on new tasks. Does your disadvantage bring you to often
learn new technologies to help you get along in everyday life?
Determination ‐ shows you are focused on achieving goals. For example, your
disadvantage has led you to struggle for what you want. List simple examples, such as
climb the stairs, ask for the time, and other...
Flexibility ‐ doing a variety of tasks to achieve a common goal.
If you're asked about weaknesses, list only one, which isn't essential to the job. And turn it into a
positive, such as how you've improved on the weakness. Or you could present it as an
opportunity for development.
Good answers:
Strengths: "I'm a good organiser, and I plan everything in detail. I showed this when I was
given a new project, and I had to get it up and running from scratch."...”My disadvantage
has led me to find creative and efficient ways to deal with everyday life on a daily basis,
making it a habit for me to deal with problem‐solving and be determined and patient
about it”
Weaknesses: "Sometimes I'm too enthusiastic when working on a new project. But I've
learned to adjust to everyone else's pace, and not go charging ahead."
The employer
Why do you want to work here?
What do you know about our company?
What can you do for us that someone else can't?
What the interviewer really wants to know: Do you know what we do? Why have you chosen to
apply to this company?
25. The interviewer wants to know you've done your homework and you know about their
organisation and their aims. They want to know you've thought it through and you've chosen to
apply to them for a good reason. Show your knowledge of the company by having some facts and
figures at the ready, such as:
the size of the organisation
what the product or service is
last year's turnover figures
latest developments in the field
the history, goals, image and philosophy of the employer.
When talking about why you want to work for the employer, focus on what you can do for them,
not on what they can do for you.
Good answer:
"Smith's is a respected firm with a reputation for high quality work, and I'd like to be part
of that success. The quality of my work is important to me, so I feel I'd be at the right
place. I've also heard you invest in your staff by training and developing them."
The job
What will the main tasks and responsibilities be in this job?
What do you think the main challenges will be?
What would you do in the first day/week/month/year?
What the interviewer really wants to know: Do you know what the job's all about?
The interviewer wants to know if you fully understand what the job will involve. They want to
know why you think you'd be good at it, and how you'd approach it if they offer you the job. To
answer this question well, keep the job description in mind and research how the organisation
operates.
Your work history
Why did you leave your last job?
Tell me about a typical day in your current/previous job
What experience have you got from previous jobs?
What the interviewer really wants to know: What have you done in your previous jobs?
When talking about previous jobs, focus on the positives. Even if you think your previous or
current job wasn't very demanding, if you jot down the tasks and responsibilities it will sound
more impressive than you think. You will have learned something, so mention it. Focus on the
skills and experience that are relevant to the job you're being interviewed for.
Don't bring up negative things like having a dispute with a colleague or your boss. And don't
criticise previous employers.
26. Good answer:
"In my current job I have developed my knowledge of computer software packages. But
now I'm ready for a new challenge, and want to use these skills in a more customer‐
focused role."
Your motivation
What motivates you?
Which tasks do you get the most satisfaction from?
What the interviewer really wants to know: What makes you tick?
By finding out what motivates you, the interviewer can find out which environment you'll
perform well in. Try to think of examples of when a work task excited you.
Good answer:
"I like problem solving ‐ that point you reach in a project where you come up against
something unexpected, and you have to think creatively to come up with a solution."
About the product or service
What do you know about our products/services?
What do you think of our products/services?
Can you think of any improvements to our products/services?
What the interviewer really wants to know: Are you keen enough to have looked at our
products and services?
The employer wants to know that you're familiar with their products or services. They may also
want you to have the initiative to look for ways of improving things. Be tactful though, and only
mention small improvements. And make these the kind of suggestions people in the street might
come up with; not because you are an "expert" and know best.
Good answer:
"Your products are recognised as the industry standard, leading the way in style and
performance. However, maybe by altering your advertising style you could appeal to
older consumers as well as young ones. I think older people would value your product just
as much, and this could lead to increased sales."
Team‐working
What makes a good team?
What makes a good team member?
27. What makes a good team leader?
What the interviewer really wants to know: Can you operate effectively in a team?
Employers value team‐working very highly. They want to know you can work effectively in a
team, whatever your role within it is.
Good answer:
"A good team needs to have clear objectives and goals, and procedures to work towards
these. Each person needs to be clear what their role is, and what is expected of them.
There needs to be openness and trust, and clear communication. With my disadvantage
and the need for help in everyday life situations, I have often been confronted by
situations where I was obliged to collaborate with one or more people."
Your personality and interests
What was the last film you saw or the last book you read?
How would you describe yourself?
How would your friends describe you?
What the interviewer really wants to know: Are you a well‐rounded individual?
By asking personality questions, the employer wants to know how well you know yourself ‐ how
self‐aware you are. Having self‐awareness means you can look at yourself critically, which means
you'll know what you're good at and where you could improve.
When it comes to your interests, the employer wants to know you're an active citizen, who tries
to get the most out of life. If you’re to be driven and enthusiastic in work, you will probably also
be like this in your personal life.
When choosing examples of interests to mention, try to choose a wide range to show you're
well‐balanced. However, when quoting films or books, you should choose classic or mainstream
ones rather than obscure or extreme ones.
Some employers will expect you to know about current affairs and popular culture ‐ jobs in the
media, for example.
Good answer:
"In my personal life I'm always organising everybody. People look to me for ideas and
plans ‐ I guess in some ways that shows I'm a natural leader."
If you are an ex‐offender
You need to convince employers that your crimes are in your past, you've moved on and are no
longer a risk to anybody. You can say you regret the offence, do not intend to re‐offend and now
want to work hard. A change in your circumstances is a particularly good way to show you've
28. moved on, so mention it if you've settled into family life or have other responsibilities that would
mean you would have too much to lose to re‐offend.
If any of these factors apply to you and your conviction(s), explaining them to employers may
make them see you in a more positive light:
your criminal record is very old
you offended when very young and now have responsibilities such as a wife/husband, a
family, a house, a job
the crime is not relevant to the job you're applying for
you pleaded guilty to the crime
you committed the crime because you were going through a bad time, such as financial
problems, but these are now sorted out
the crime sounds more serious than it is
if the circumstances in which the crime was committed makes it less serious
Make sure these don't sound like excuses. If you're honest and own up to things that were your
fault it will show you've accepted responsibility for your actions.
Don't try to hide or gloss over your record, but try not to write or talk too much about it. Stress
that you are applying for the job because you think you'll be good at it, and make this the focus
of your application or interview.
If you have more than one conviction, you could try to group them together rather than listing
them all. For instance, if you've had more than one conviction for theft, you could say "I have
convictions for theft, but the most recent of these is now spent".
5.3. How to act during the job interview
Tips on what to do
dress neatly
find out where the appointment will take place, how to get there and how long it takes
prepare answers for the main questions ‐ for example, why do you want the job, what are
your strengths and weaknesses, what are the main tasks in this job
when you mention a skill you have, quote real examples of when you've used it
take your time when answering the questions. Make sure you understand the question
and take your time if you need to think
sell yourself. No‐one else is going to! Be positive about yourself and your experiences
prepare some questions to ask at the end ‐ use it as an opportunity to find out more
about the role and the company
get feedback on your performance, whether you were successful or not
Tips on what not to do
don't be late!
don't smoke
29. don't lie! Even if you get the job, your employer can dismiss you if he finds out
don't discuss controversial topics such as religion, politics and gender relations
don't read from notes or your CV. You should be familiar with your own history
don't criticise former employers or colleagues. Try as much as possible to be positive!
These rules apply for most jobs. However, employers in some industries can use more relaxed
and informal interviewing techniques. In some creative fields (design and media for example) it
may be expected that you turn up for the interview in casual clothes, as that is the dress code in
the office. If you're in any doubt, do some research on typical interview techniques in your line of
work.
Above all, preparation is the key to performing well in interviews. Research the role and
organisation, and prepare evidence and examples of your skills and competencies.
How do I act if I get asked on skills and competencies I haven’t got evidence of?
You can face questions like this if you're applying for promotion or going for a career change.
As a general rule, you should apply for jobs you've got most of the skills for, but it's ok if you
haven't got a couple of them. Remember that the person specification is an ideal, and no one
person might meet all the points.
However, you will have to show that you have the potential to develop these skills. You can do
this by describing times when you've:
been given extra responsibilities
been left in charge
showed this skill on an informal basis, either in work or at home.
If you can’t think of any related experience, you could describe how you would act if you were
placed in the future work situation. For example, if you had to deal with a difficult customer you
could explain how you would approach it: stay calm, be polite and be clear on what your roles
are.
What if I get asked why I’ve been out of work for a long time?
First of all, put the accent on any positive activities you've done during your period out of work,
such as:
voluntary work
courses
keeping up with developments in your field
treating job seeking as a full‐time job
keeping fit
networking
30. You can also say that you were being selective, and not taking the first job that came along.
Stress you were waiting for the right opportunity, such as the job being offered by the employer
interviewing you.
What if I voluntarily left my job?
Make sure you state positive reasons for leaving. The best reason is to say that you wanted a
fresh challenge, and you wanted to fully concentrate your efforts on finding your next
opportunity. Reflect positively on your time in your previous job ‐ describe how you developed in
the role and say you were grateful for the opportunity.
Self‐confidence
You may feel that your confidence has slipped away, be worried that your skills might be out of
date, or that things have changed in the workplace. You may feel that your priorities and lifestyle
are now different from your colleagues.
First of all, think about the skills you’ve developed at home ‐ such as managing a budget,
teaching your children, counselling, negotiating, problem‐solving, and time management. Also
think of the skills you’ve developed thanks to your disadvantage, for example if you’re disabled,
you have developed skills in team‐working and cooperating with other people, often needing the
help of others. If you come from a different culture and immigrated, you have developed skills in
adaptation and integration, as well as proving capable of learning a new language.
And don't undervalue your personal qualities. People who get on with others and work well in a
team are greatly valued by employers. If you lack technical skills, it's easier for employers to
teach you these skills than to teach somebody who lacks interpersonal skills how to
communicate well! Remember, if you don't project the belief that you can do this job, no one
else will believe it.
Examples of non‐work experiences that can be used as a basis of relevant and impressive
experience, instead of work‐related experiences, for example:
voluntary work
fund‐raising
grants and funding applications
committee membership of societies and clubs
organising things ‐ at school, college, university, local community
campaigning for a cause
collecting things
making things
running a part‐time business
teaching and helping people
caring for people
creating things ‐ art, writing, photography, sculpture, etc
languages
sports and fitness
games and competitions
31. organising events and outings
entertaining and performing
computers and telecommunications
music and singing
theatre and dance
local politics and trade union activities/responsibilities
becoming expert and accumulating knowledge in anything
reading
travel
thinking and philosophising
meditating and religious pursuits
overcoming personal difficulties (here is where your disadvantage turns into an asset ‐
turn these difficulties to a positive advantage and statement of determination,
experience and emotional maturity
Here is some data which you could keep in mind while preparing for a job interview10:
1. 80 % of employees having a disabled colleague have not noticed an extra load of work
2. 93 % of the companies say being satisfied by the disabled workers they employ.
3. 91% of the employees say they are ready and eager to help newly hired people with
disadvantages or disabilities to get around with daily work and to integrate into the
working team.
10
According to a Harris Interactive public opinion research (2005)
32. 6. How to write a CV (practical tools)
6.1. Why do you need a CV?
The CV is like a visit card, it contains your personal information and most of all it leaves an overall
impression to the employer. It’s meant to communicate your skills, as you write them down on
the CV; it’s also meant to communicate your skills in a more “hidden” way, being a proof of your
written and information skills. Last but not least, the CV can win you an interview.
Unless you feel it is important for an employer to be aware of your disadvantage, do not mention
it in your CV.
Emphasise your characteristics, your capabilities and achievements ‐ this is all fine ‐ but know
where to draw the line. Positive emphasis and strong presentation is good; lying is not.
Speaking about presenting yourself within the CV in a very positive light, you might find this
difficult. Try to get help from someone creative and enthusiastic to assist you in interpreting and
writing very positive phrases and descriptions about you for your CV. In your CV it's important to
emphasise your attributes in strong, relevant and expressive terms; modesty doesn't work
particularly well on any CV.
Additionally, there is a widely held school of thought that writing such statements ‐ powerful
descriptions about yourself, your personality and your strengths and capabilities ‐ actually helps
you to become even more like the person you describe. It's related to NLP, self‐talk, self‐belief,
and positive visualisation: we tend to live up to our claims when we write them down and
commit to them. Creating a positive CV for ourselves helps us to grow and to become how we
want to be.
6.2. Contents
Personal details
This section must contain your:
name
address
telephone number
email address (if you have one)
(If you use a telephone typewriter phone or use a telephone relay service, you might consider
making a note about this in your CV, as some employers may not have communicated through
these systems before)
You can also include your nationality/ies, if you have a driving license, and a photo (not
recommended)
Profile
33. A few sentences about you, or some key bullet points help to focus a CV and to make it more
appealing to read
If you wish, you can write about:
your current situation: a description of your recent achievements and what sort of job or
career you are looking for.
your personal profile: a short summary of who you are. Include the main skills and
experience you can offer and what you would like to do next.
Achievements
Your CV should highlight some of the things you have succeeded in doing.
It is easy to forget the things we achieve ‐ or even fail to recognise them in the first place.
Achievements can include all kinds of things ‐ like getting a qualification, caring for a family
member or winning an award.
List your key achievements in the relevant sections ‐ like education or work history.
Work history
If you have had a job before, or if you have had some work experience, you can give brief details
on your CV.
Start with the most recent job, and list the employer, your role, and your main responsibilities. If
you have had numerous jobs, or very different job experiences, you can classify them by topics,
for example “looking after people”, “accounting” etc., and then complete the list with your
corresponding job experiences.
Education and qualifications
Write about your most recent courses and qualifications first.
This helps employers to find out about the person you are now.
Also list the last school you attended, along with any qualifications you achieved. Do not mention
obsolete courses.
Often, mentioning your information technology skills is a good thing. It can be mentioned in this
section or in the profile section (eventually in the hobbies and interests).
Hobbies and interests
Hobbies and interests can tell an employer more about the sort of person you are.
34. What do your hobbies and interests say about you? Make sure you present a positive image.
If you want a new career, they can help to show your enthusiasms.
Example 1
Ellen Marshall
10 January 1972
63 Marble Arch
Westminster
W1N 7HR, London
00441 866 402 0865
Work Experience
April 1996 to present
Reception Supervisor, Garnock Hotel, London
Responsible for: supervision of six full/part time reception employees; hotel
customers’ bookings and accounts; conference bookings and invoicing; liaising
with Catering and Bar Supervisors.
August 1994 ‐ April 1996
Full time Receptionist, Station Lodge Hotel, Bath
Gained experience in: all aspects of bookings, accounts and communications;
public relations; catering and work schedule organisation via ‘in house’
training.
July 1992 ‐ August 1994
Part time Receptionist / Restaurant Assistant,
Station Lodge Hotel, Bath
Involvement in general reception and restaurant duties.
Education
1992 – 94 London Further Education College (full time)
Gained HND Hospitality Management
My course involved training for specialist management in the reception
and personnel sectors.
1987 – 92 Castle High School, Brighton
Gained three Higher Grades ‐ Home Economics (B); English (C); French
(C)
Skills and Qualities
I use a computer system for the hotel bookings, accounts and invoicing.
35. My work requires a high level of communication skills in dealings with the
public and negotiations with colleagues.
Good team co‐operation is vital for success in this field. I take joint
responsibilities for promotions and quality enhancement and assist others
willingly.
By building up experience in many areas of the Hospitality industry, I believe I
can contribute positively to a hotel management team.
Interests
Cycling, keep fit activities and reading novels.
I have cycled extensively in this country and, on occasions, abroad. On such
travels, I enjoy investigating local history and communities. This involves
research, organisation of time and communication skills.
I have built up a wide knowledge of Scottish tourism.
References
Mrs Jean Albert Dr Gareth Smith
Manager, Garnock Hotel Secretary, Eastlie Cycling Club
Bath PH7 4AS 27 Brown Street,
Tel: 01742 476393 Bath PH1 3LB
Tel: 01742 471631
Revision of Ellen Marshall’s CV
Ellen Marshall decided to compose a straightforward letter, stating the job being applied for
and when she will be available for interview.
Both ‘Education’ and ‘Work Experience’ information are shown in reverse chronological order
(recent experiences are more important to an employer).
Only a brief comment on the HND Hospitality Management has been included ‐ the person
reading the CV can ask for further details at an interview.
The names of the Standard Grade subjects have not been listed – these are less recent
qualifications.
The ‘Work Experience’ section again gives brief details of the duties involved but highlights a
breadth of experience.
‘Skills and Qualities’ gives a positive message, relating personal strengths to the job applied
for.
The comments in the ‘Interests’ section could be seen as advantageous to the Hospitality
industry.
Although not essential, Ellen has chosen a ‘work related’ referee and one that would be more
character/personal based.
36.
Example 2
Jean Ploy
Rue du Valentin 1 30 years old
1004 Lausanne single
+41 21 123 45 67 nationality: Swiss
jean.ploy@lausanne.ch
OBJECTIVE: Recently graduated in vocational guidance counselling, I wish to put my theoretic
and practical skills to use in a social organisation.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVIEWS
Individual consultations in vocational guidance counselling 2005‐2006
Professional guidance interviews on 4 to 6 weekly meetings, adults and teenagers
Assistant‐psychologist, then coach 2005
Test entering (WISC) in English for a gifted child of 5 years old
Linguistic support during interview, translations
Motivational coaching and individual follow‐up of a 17 years old gifted child failing at school
Marketing consultant 2005
Individual interviews aiming to grasp the consumer’s behaviours
University of Lausanne, University of Zurich, Association Whatever
HUMANITARIAN, SOCIAL & EDUCATION
Project assistant 2008
Networking and negotiation with European projects partners
Construction and evaluation of vocational tools
French teacher for illegal south‐Americans 2003
Studies supervisor for 10‐13 years old 2002‐2005
Nurse’s aid 1998
Whatever Association, Example company, Example company 2
EDUCATION
Master in Psychology option Guidance counselling, University of Lausanne 2002‐2007
One‐year exchange with University of McGill (Québec, Canada)
LANGUAGES
French/English: Mother tongues
Spanish: Oral: Good Written: Average
German: Oral: Average Written: Average
37.
INTERESTS
Creation: painting, dancing (Argentinean tango)
Sports: volleyball, running (from 20 km up), swimming, soccer
Example 3:
EUROPEAN
CURRICULUM VITAE
FORMAT
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name GEORGIEVA, MARTA KOLEVA
Address 4000 PLOVDIV, 300TRACIA, ENTRANCE A
Telephone 032/ 691517 0889/ 643278
Fax
E-mail Maria_gev@bg
Nationality Bulgarian
Date of birth 10JULY,1983
WORK EXPERIENCE
• 2005-2007 A TEACHER IN BIOLOGY,
“St. Paisii Hilendarski” comprehensive school
TEACHING STUDENTS FROM THE 9TH-12TH GRADE THE SUBJECT BIOLOGY,
WORKING WITH DOCUMENTATION
2006-2007 A BABY-SITTER
“PROFESSIONAL CENTRE FOR DAY KIDS CARE
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
• 2007-present “Paisii Hilendarski” University of Plovdiv
38. Master degree in Molecular Biology
• 2001-2006 “Paisii Hilendarski” University of Plovdiv
Subject: Biology
Qualification: Biology and a Teacher in Biology
Computer literacy Good
MS Office, Word, Excel and Internet
Driving licence Yes
Languages:
English Good
39.
7. Other useful documents
7.1. Application form
Some employers ask for an application form instead of a CV in order to compare the candidate’s
potential more easily.
If you are asked an application form do not send a CV although the information will be almost
the same but in another format.
Application forms help employers decide who to interview.
In them every applicant is asked the same questions.
When filling this form, include a covering letter to identify which job you are applying for, to give
any extra information and make it more personal.
It is a good idea to keep a photocopy as a reminder.
Here are some samples of application forms. Examine them carefully and then the tips after
them. It may be a good exercise for you to fill one or two drafts before filling an actual one.
Instructions : Print clearly in black or blue ink. Answer all questions. Sign and date the form.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
First Name _____________________________
Middle Name ___________________________
Last Name _____________________________
Street Address
_______________________________________________________
City, State, Postal Code
_______________________________________________________
Phone Number
(___)___________________________________
Yes ___ No ___
Have you been convicted of or pleaded no contest to a felony within the last five years?
Yes_______ No_______
If yes, please explain: _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
42. Signature______________________________
Date__________________________________
How can I make mine stand out from the rest?
Follow the instructions on the form. If you don’t, the employer will probably stop reading. If it
says write in black ink or in block capitals, do so!
You won’t need a covering letter if there is a section on the application form where you can
provide additional info such as why you want to work for them. If there isn’t an additional info
section, you could include a covering letter explaining why you want to work for the organisation
and what skills and experience you can bring to the job.
Photocopy the original form and do a rough version. When you come to fill in the real form you'll
need to get it right first time, so there are no crossings out or other kind of corrections.
Write neatly! If your handwriting is difficult to read you could use block capitals or get it typed.
Use black ink unless asked otherwise. Black ink is easier to read if the employer photocopies it.
Keep the original form clean and tidy! Don’t leave it lying around for people to spill food on or
put coffee cups on. And keep it away from children or pets!
Use block capitals for personal details.
Spelling or grammatical errors are some of the most common reasons for getting rejected. Ask
someone to check over the form before sending it.
Photocopy the form before sending it off. If you get an interview you’ll want to remind yourself
what you wrote.
Send it in an envelope big enough to hold it without folding it. If it’s folded it will look untidy.
Make sure you get education and work history dates right, so it all makes sense.
Don’t forget to sign the form!
Any advice on answering the questions?
If the boxes don’t give you enough space to put all you need into them, continue on a separate
sheet. Put your name on this sheet and attach it to the main form.
Read the questions carefully to make sure you understand exactly what the employer is looking
for. It will give you an idea if you refer back to the job description and person specification.
Look out for multiple questions within one question and make sure you answer all aspects of the
question.
Use a range of examples from your work and personal history – this shows you’re a well‐rounded
person with varied experience.
Watch out when cutting and pasting from previous application forms. The emphasis of the
questions and the way you presented yourself might have been slightly different. The employer
may be confused by your answer or able to tell you’ve cut and pasted it and will not be
impressed!
Fill in every part of the form. If a section doesn’t apply to you, write N/A (not applicable) in the
box – this shows you’ve considered it and haven’t just forgotten.
Use active language (verbs rather than nouns), short sentences and short words. Don’t waffle or
use too much jargon).
What about my qualifications?
Start with your most recent qualification or period in education.
43. Make sure you include grades if you got a good mark – GCSE grade C or above; if you passed but
didn’t get a particularly good grade ‐ and the form doesn't specifically ask for grades ‐ you can
just list them as subjects you passed.
What about my previous employment or work experience?
List your jobs in date order, starting with your present or most recent job.
Summarise the main responsibilities and achievements using "power words" like ‘overhauled’,
‘delivered’, ‘exceeded’, ‘co‐ordinated’, ‘implemented’, ‘instrumental’, ‘directed’ and ‘led’.
If you’ve had a number of jobs or space is limited you don’t need to list the older jobs fully;
summarise them or group them together.
What about my interests and hobbies?
Choose activities that reflect your personality and show you’re well‐rounded and capable.
Good examples of what to put in this section include membership of societies, social clubs, sports
clubs; and voluntary work. Think about how the skills you used in these activities might be useful
to the employer – e.g. problem solving, project management, time management, communication
skills.
Don’t list incredible achievements – you’re trying to appear human in this section and no‐one
likes a brag.
Don’t include things like membership of political activism organisations. You may be proud of
your beliefs but the employer may not share your views. You could show how your skills have
developed by membership of this society, but keep the name of it anonymous.
Use those power words again!
What do they mean by additional information?
Most application forms contain a section where you can include other information relevant to
your application. Read the instructions on what they want from you. Refer back to the job
description and person specification and ensure you address most of the points. You could also
look on the organisation’s website to see what the work culture is and what they want from their
employees.
Employers are usually looking for:
‐ relevant additional skills, aptitudes and experience (include examples)
‐ why you’re attracted to this particular job (don’t put ‘the money’!)
‐ what you can offer the employer
‐ what your long‐term career goals are.
Don’t repeat info already included. Structure it well so it’s easy to read.
What about referees?
Follow the instructions ‐ most forms ask for two referees. Both might need to be employers, or
one might need to be an academic or even a personal referee from a professional person who
knows you well, such as a teacher.
Check with your referees first that it’s ok with them. You could also tell them beforehand what
your career aims are, so that they include information relevant to your professional aspirations
and know on which aspect of your experience will be relevant to emphasise.
Include full contact details for referees.
