Job Apps

[emamum]

sounds stupid but dont fold the application... make sure the envelope is the right size, i know a head that throws them straight out if you cant be bothered to get the right sized envelope...

[Stanleymad]

That explains it cheers for the clarification thats been really helpful, i take it they prefer it handwritten rather than typed ??

[Stanleymad]

Originally Posted by emamum23

sounds stupid but dont fold the application... make sure the envelope is the right size, i know a head that throws them straight out if you cant be bothered to get the right sized envelope...

It costs more in postage to do that nowadays tho as near to it, have to keep my costs down especially if im unsuccessful.

[emamum]

probably best to hand deliver it then... if there's a lot of apps for the same job they use strange ways to cut down the numbers..

[harwood red]

It's the same at our place Mel, we only accept the form for the reasons Gayle and hedman have said. Little tip, when asking if you have had experience in whatever, don't say yes I have give good clear examples and don't worry about waffling on for some reason them seem to like that with app forms

GOOD LUCK

[Gayle]

Always go into detail and give examples. If they say, as a really simple exampe 'have you ever worked with children' go into as much detail with as many examples as possible.

Type or write incredibly neatly. Like has been said, they can throw applications out for very simple reasons.

[emamum]

out of interest, what job are you applying for?

[Bonnyboy]

I’d suggest that if you are seeking a job with an employer then it’s only courteous to fill in whatever paperwork they ask you to complete.

[hedman2003]

I'd be interested to know about the headteacher who throws away applications if they don't apply in the right envelope, sounds like an urban myth to me

re handwritten or typed, it is acceptable for applications to be either however if handwritten ensure it is neat and presentable. Your letter should preferably be typed on no more than 2 pages of A4

If you are applying for a number of posts sure that you personalise the application to that school it's amazing how many applications start "I wish to apply for your post St Paul's School" but the final para will have the name of a different school because that was the last post they applied for.

In terms of working with children even if you haven't been employed working with children highlight voluntary work you may have done ie Brownie Leader, Sports Coach, Sunday School Teacher etc. Contact local schools and see if they want some assistance listening to children read etc

Do not apply for posts if you don't meet the essential criteria, your wasting your time and the schools ie if it says you need a qualification and you dont have it your application will go in the WPB (not really because schools have to keep them for 12 months incase there's an equal opportunities complaint)

[emamum]

it was my last employer....

[nikkival]

Originally Posted by hedman2003

I'd be interested to know about the headteacher who throws away applications if they don't apply in the right envelope, sounds like an urban myth to me

I was a governor at a local primary school and have seen applications rejected by the head for lots of silly reasons the most memorable being for a deputy head -
Applicant from Kent - not willing to pay for travelling & accomodation expenses!
Another applicant had taken a year off work to care for a terminally ill relative - deemed as being out of touch and unreliable!
Staff member who applied for the position and was actually acting deputy head - has only ever worked at one school and needs to expand her horizons!

I'm sure that this is not the case in all schools but it obviously does happen in some.

[entwisi]

One of my funniest is when I worked for Accenture. We had a young lad in as a contractor. Very clever, very technical, knew his stuff and was excellent at the job. The bosses decided to ask him if he would like to go permie. As he'd only gone contracting due to being made redundant from his last job he thought about it and decided to accept. Oh, you need to just go through the formalities with HR they said.

So a 2 hour telephone interview later where they didn't even ask him a single technical Q they told him he wasn't suitable! As it was HR there was nothing our bosses could do.

[West Ender]

This wouldn't be legal now, though I'm sure it still happens, but a friend of mine used to work as secretary in a large company in Warrington. When they had jobs on offer she used to scan the initial application forms and her brief was to go to the last page and look at the year of birth of the applicant without bothering to read the rest. This was in 1995 and if the birth year was before 1960 the application went straight in the bin.

[Stanleymad]

Originally Posted by Gayle

Always go into detail and give examples. If they say, as a really simple exampe 'have you ever worked with children' go into as much detail with as many examples as possible.

Type or write incredibly neatly. Like has been said, they can throw applications out for very simple reasons.

Following the advice of putting in as much detail as possible reflecting experience/skills to fit criteria - ermmmm im really worried now that its too long as going to a 3 page long just on that alone, that they wont be arsed with it & bin it anyway for being too long - yet trying to cover as much of the criteria as possible [yes i have a lot of key skills], im sure i was told in a connextions session that to keep to the point & short as possible as long ones will get binned...ok that was cv rather than application form but again dont want to lower my chances either way too short or too long plus not missing vital information neccessary to my application as this 3 page has covered everything neccessary.

Help

[harwood red]

I advise you to get someone else to read it. Also I am guessing there is a person spec with it, if so - relate to each section of the person spec on the app form. It is only necessary to give one example for each section unless specifies otherwise