Q: I am in the process of completing an application form for a new job and one of the questions is “please explain how your experience is relevant to the post”.
How long do you think the answer should be – is filling both sides of a sheet of A4 paper sufficient, and should I include experience gained outside of the corporate arena?
A: A couple of sides of A4 should be fine, but try not to go over this.
Read the job description carefully as your response should demonstrate that you have relevant experience for each of the main elements.
It’s fine to draw on experience gained outside the corporate environment, particularly if you have been involved in community or charity projects.
Include quantifiable evidence of your achievements, such as exceeding sales targets, rather than just a description of activity. Don’t include too many adjectives – focus on getting your points across clearly and concisely. Present your most relevant experience first.
Your aim is for the person reading your application form to think within a few seconds of picking it up “this person might be right for this job”. Try to put yourself in their shoes and think about the most important things that they will be looking for.
JENNY UNGLESS
Life coach, Monster UK & Ireland
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