Making Effective Applications

www.edgehill.ac.uk/careers

Understanding Your Skills &

Making Effective ApplicationsBECKA COLLEY, CAREERS ADVISER


Overview of Session

How are you recruited and selected?

Understanding your skills

Making effective applications/writing a good CV


Recruitment and Selection Processes

Staffing need arises/is identified

Job role is created with person specification and job

description

Role is advertised

Shortlisting takes place

Selection panel process, usually at least an interview

Successful candidate appointed


Issues to Consider

Process will be very competitive

Recruiters doing this in addition to their day job

Shortlisting can be very very dull

How will you grab their attention?


When you see a job vacancy…

Read the details

Locate the Person Specification

Do you meet the criteria?

Do you want the job?

Get your application checked!

“Careers in sports psychology are varied. The work will usually be a mixture of

consultancy work (with individual athletes, national sports bodies, GPs, teams)

and will involve improving individual performance or encouraging the take

up of exercise amongst the wider population.” http://www.careersinpsychology.co.uk/careers-sports-

psychology.html accessed 4.12.14

http://www.careersinpsychology.co.uk/careers-sports-psychology.html


Follow Their Rules!

Do what they ask, how

they ask

Don’t submit a CV if they

ask you not to

Ensure you put N/A in any

sections that do not apply

Use the correct font, size

of font or colour


Making Effective Applications

Unpick the skills required

Match to your experiences

Evidence all areas with multiple examples


Skills Audit

Provide evidence of your skills and experiences against the skills on the

checklist

Situation - brief background, context of the setting (1 sentence)

Task – what did you need to achieve, with who and why (1 sentence)

Action- what did you do, what steps did you take (3-4 sentences)

Result – what did you achieve - always a successful outcome! (1 sentence)

10 mins individually using STAR model to

evidence two or more skills


Skills Most Commonly Sought By Employers

1. Self-management: readiness to accept responsibility,

flexibility, resilience, self-starting, assertiveness, self

awareness.

2. Team working: respecting others, co-operating,

negotiating/persuading, contributing to discussions,

awareness of interdependence with others.

3. Business and customer awareness: understanding of key

drivers for business success, importance of innovation and

calculated risks, need to provide customer satisfaction and

build customer loyalty.

4. Problem solving: analysing facts and situations, applying

creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.

5. Communication and literacy: ability to produce clear,

structured written work and oral literacy including listening

and questioning

6. Ability to manage others: ability to direct other people to

achieve a goal

7. Time management: techniques for planning and

scheduling time to increase effectiveness and

efficiency

8. Decision making: process of making informed choice

among alternative actions that are possible

9. Ability to show initiative: ability to act on your own and

to show resourcefulness in planning, proposing and

carrying out tasks and activities

10. Working under pressure: carrying out tasks in stressful

conditions caused for example by time or resource

constraints

11. Adaptability/flexibility: ability to change successfully to

fit varying circumstances or situations

12. Ability to plan and organise: being able to design, plan,

organise, and implement projects and tasks usually

within an allotted timeframe and/or budget constraints


Useful language for your CV and applications

Developed expertise in

Demonstrated/used skills in

Knowledge of/experienced as/in

Extensive training/involvement in

Proficient/competent at

Assisted with/in

Created

Worked closely with

Efficient at

Regular interaction with

Promoted to

Succeeded in or successful in/at

Experience involved/included

In charge of

Initiated

Established

Assigned to

Achieved

Devised

Thorough/comprehensive understanding of

Implemented

Managed/led

Collaborated with


CV Top Tips

Do Be positive

Use action language

Check for spelling and grammar errors!

Think carefully about layout

Maximise your skills and experiences

Don’t Lie!

Waffle

Waste space, leave large blanks

Under sell yourself

Use a template

Make it generic


The Perfect CV?

Is my CV interesting to read?

Does it reflect the vacancy?

At a glance will someone want to meet me?

Have I provided proof with examples?

Have I linked my experiences to the role I want?

Does it demonstrate my excellent communication

skills and good use of IT?


Getting a job

Where do you lack evidence or experience?

How will you develop these skills?

Do you know what you need to obtain your dream

career (or any job!)?


What Next?

Email a Careers Adviser

Network, network, network!

Stay motivated!


Resources


Vacancy Database

Download Zone (booklet CC22 Options with a degree in Sport)

Volunteering/Part Time/Summer Opportunities

Making applications booklets & support from Careers Advisers

www.prospects.ac.uk

www.skillsactive.com

http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/careers

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

http://www.skillsactive.com/

Making Effective Applications

Education

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