Seven top tips to ace your application
No matter what role you apply for in the Service, the first step to your dream role is completing our application form. You’ll need to show how you have the personal qualities, attributes and experience needed to do the job. It’s your opportunity to really shine.
Follow our seven top tips for writing a winning application.
- Research the organisation and study the advert. You want your passion and enthusiasm for the role to shine through.
- Use sub-headings to make it clear which part of the job specification you’re demonstrating. This will also help you keep track of the areas you’ve answered.
- Give recent examples and take responsibility for them by using ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ or ‘they’. Own your achievements! Remember that examples don’t need to be job-related, as long as they are relevant to the role.
- Use the STAR method to help structure your examples. Set out the situation, the task, the action you took and the result.
- Keep it concise; using unnecessary words or repetition will use up valuable word count. Quality is far more important than quantity.
- Check, check and check again – make sure that you’ve proof read your application for spelling or grammar errors.
- Ask a family member or friend to take a look at your application. A fresh pair of eyes can help spot any mistakes or help you clarify what you mean.
Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to fill out your application and set a calendar reminder for the deadline so you don’t miss it!
And remember that it’s competitive out there. If you’re unsuccessful, keep trying.