Short Form Job Applications

30 August 2016

Increasingly public sector employers are moving towards one/two page, or short form, applications as the initial application ask.  

Outlined below is one way you can go about successfully writing this short form.

The first thing to be aware of is that that principles of merit underpin all public sector recruitment.  This means that the panel will be looking at your short form application for evidence of your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the pre determined selection criteria.  In other words, the short form application is not simply an application letter in which you outline how fabulous you are generally.  It is a targeted piece of writing specific to the selection criteria. 

A common error people who are used to writing long form applications have, when writing a short form job application, is to try and cram all the information they may have included in their longer application into two pages.  This often leads to writing that is characterised by lots of motherhood statements about what you can do rather than how you do it and why you do it that way.  As I have outlined in other articles (here and here) HOW you work and HOW you think is vital.   With a one pager it can be tempting to take a shortcut and only give them what you have done.  Please don’t. The how and the why are the things that will ensure your application stands out. 

Here are some do’s and don’ts for your one pager:

Do:

• Know the key 2 to 3 messages you want to tell the panel so you can stay on message.  These are the key things that you would bring to the role.
• Keep in mind good document design principles such as a readable font size, enough white space and breaking chunks of writing up.
• Give real examples rather than just make motherhood statements.
• Have someone edit your writing and check for typos – it needs to be perfect.

Don’t:

• Don’t waste space telling them about things they can easily see on your resume e.g. “I am currently project manager of the xyz project with the department of abc.”
• Don’t squash the writing by using a small font and narrow margins – it looks desperate.  
• Don't put your short form into a letter format - this is unnecessary and wastes space.
• I advise against writing individual paragraphs for each selection criteria.  It is difficult to get to how and why in a paragraph leading to writing that lacks depth.

Here is a suggested paragraph outline (note: this also works well as an outline when you have been asked to submit a one page expression of interest).

Paragraph 1 - Why you are attracted to the role.

Paragraph 2 - The skills and experience you will bring to the role.  Focus on the key 2-3 points that will really sell you and use your resume to highlight everything else you bring.

Paragraph 3 - An example (in story format i.e. Context, Action, Result) of when you have used many of the criteria they are looking for.  Use the What, How and Why framework when writing about the action you took:

• What you did
• How you did it
• Why you did it that way

"The following example is typical of my approach and gives an insight into my skills in (insert relevant topics from the selection criteria covered by the example)..."

Paragraph 4 - Another story of when you have used many of the criteria they are looking for, again with the What, How and Why framework.

Paragraph 5 - If needed give another story.  The intent is that you provide two to three stories that cover all of the selection criteria so choose stories that show different aspects of your skills, knowledge and experience.

Paragraph 6 - How you plan to BE once you are in the role (e.g. what you will give, the difference you will make, the ideas you will bring)

Ensure your application works in tandem with your resume.  Craft your resume so it reflects key criteria and conveys a sense of meaning and commitment for the work of the role you are applying for.  By doing this you will give the panel an insight into your why and the energy and intelligence you will bring.  I have written previously (here and here) on the rise of the resume, and this new development only heightens the importance of making this a very well crafted document.

As always, wishing you a Flourishing Career, and if this article has been insightful join my blog and get similar practical articles on resume construction, interviews, and career delivered to your email on a bi-weekly basis.

Katherine