When applying for a new job, whether it is through the application or the during the interview, it is important to show the recruiter that the move into this new job is a small step and you could do it easily. There are a few things to be aware of from an organisations point of view, that could help with your applications.
The Importance of the Person Specification
Many organisations produce a person specification, as well as a job description. The person specification identifies what skills, experience and knowledge the ideal candidate will have.
Your application must show how you fulfil the person specification. Maximum marks will be awarded if you identify and give examples how how you fulfil the main criteria. If you do not cover one of the main criteria in your application, then you will receive a zero mark, which could reduce your chances of getting through this stage.
Not having certain criteria doesn’t mean you should not apply, but you should consider showing what you are proactively doing to to develop your own skills, knowledge and experience.
Spend Time on Your Application
Your time is limited, don’t waste it on jobs you don’t really want or on rushed applications that don’t cover the person specification criteria. Each application should be bespoke to the job you are applying for. Don’t waste your time putting in an application that you haven’t put 100% effort into.
Do you now what your ideal job is? What are the essential criteria of your ideal job and does the job you are applying for fit your criteria? Have your criteria changed as you become more experienced? Know what you really want from a job and what is important to you.
What’s Holding you Back?
If you check off all the person specification criteria, then you might be aiming too low! If you have all the knowledge, skills and experience to do the job now, then it may not be the best move. If you are taking the time to move jobs, then it needs to be the right one!
Can you look at a person specification and have a traffic light system; green for very experienced, amber for less experienced and red for never done it before? That way you can see if the job is a step up, it’s not always about monetary returns, you also need to be fulfilled in your work. We’ll find out later how to deal with the ‘red’ criteria.
Don’t Forget Your Transferable Skills
Can you identify and use your transferrable skills acquired outside of the workplace, to help the employer see your breadth of experience. These are often overlooked by individuals applying for jobs but can be really useful for your amber criteria. This can include volunteer or community work and the skills, knowledge and experience you gained during this work.
Know Your Own Strengths
Ensure you are aware of your strengths and key skills and identify personal statements that you can use again and again in applications and interviews, to show you in a positive way.
‘I am very persistent and work through any difficulties that I see in order to reach the end goal and do not stop until I get there. I motivated my team to stay focussed on implementing a new electronic record system, even though they were resistant to change’.
Have A Development Plan
In order to overcome any gaps (red criteria) in your experience, ensure you have a development plan to overcome those gaps and explain this in your application.
This shows the employer that you are proactive in developing yourself and your career.
By explaining what you are doing to fill gaps in the person specification will potentially gain you points in the application process. Use this technique rather than ignoring the criteria that you do not have experience of!
Confidence
We can all suffer from a lack of confidence to a greater or lesser extent. Understand your own confidence; what impacts on it, are there specific reasons for low confidence and what strategies work for you to improve your confidence?
This is important when writing your application, as low confidence can impact on the way you write about yourself.
Think about these things when completing your application and show the recruiter that this is a small step for you to take and you have all the skills, knowledge and experience and where you don’t, you’re doing something about it.
GOOD LUCK!!
