Writing personal statement - how long does it take you
Discussion
hi, yeah new job; they have a long bullet point personal spec list and you have to answer each bullet point in order (or your app will be canned!) in your supporting statement with examples and evidence. Some of them are hard to answer (maybe that's weeding me out) like ...working strategically with external agencies to create innovative and dynamic change...blah blah etc
anyway I'm finally done. At this point I don't care if it goes nowhere. It's just the job is actually quite interesting. it's probably because it's above my pay grade some items have been difficult to answer.
anyway I'm finally done. At this point I don't care if it goes nowhere. It's just the job is actually quite interesting. it's probably because it's above my pay grade some items have been difficult to answer.
One thing I have found is that most folk do find it difficult to talk about their impact, regardless of their seniority. Most good folk have made an impact, of course relevant to their appointment, but often just think that ‘was just my job!’.
Sometimes it takes others to help bring out that impact.
Fingers crossed for you!
Sometimes it takes others to help bring out that impact.
Fingers crossed for you!
CoolHands said:
I've sent most of the day on one 
I think I'm running at a 5/1 ratio (5 being distracted, 1 being typing)
gah
Mine normally end up quite good, I try to hit each point they want on the personal spec. But ye gods I'm not efficient.
Do it in stages: I think I'm running at a 5/1 ratio (5 being distracted, 1 being typing)gah
Mine normally end up quite good, I try to hit each point they want on the personal spec. But ye gods I'm not efficient.
1. Analyse the advert/person spec and make a note of how your experience matches each of their requirements. Then walk away from it for a while.
2. Write rough notes for each bit of your experience that you need to evidence.
3. Do a good first draft of a couple of bits
4. Tighten up the writing.
5. Proof read it.
6. Give it to a mate to proof read again. Promise them £5 for each mistake they spot.
It also sounds like they can't write a Person Spec - it's meant to be key skills required for the post. The Job Description is usually where the bulk is. Can you group some of the Person Spec points to make it manageable as they are probably repeating the same requirements? Or hide messages in the first letter of each line to amuse yourself.
It’s a job in a local authority haha
Yes some of their bullet point sentences went onto the next line down and had their own (incorrect) bullet. So it looked like 2 distinct items but was actually the same sentence! Etc
They specifically said (in bold) to answer all items in the same order (to make it easy fit them to tick off each one I guess) so no I couldn’t group or do anything like that.
Yes some of their bullet point sentences went onto the next line down and had their own (incorrect) bullet. So it looked like 2 distinct items but was actually the same sentence! Etc
They specifically said (in bold) to answer all items in the same order (to make it easy fit them to tick off each one I guess) so no I couldn’t group or do anything like that.
Edited by CoolHands on Tuesday 26th July 08:45
I applied for a Graphic Designer role at a College of Policing.
Curriculum Vitaes were not accepted and they required a 10,000 word personal statement to be forwarded as part of the initial application process. There were 11 categories of criteria to meet. It took me a week to complete the statement after endless tweaking.
They were kind to respond with a rejection and also provided a score; 5 of 11. Their minimum was 6.
Curriculum Vitaes were not accepted and they required a 10,000 word personal statement to be forwarded as part of the initial application process. There were 11 categories of criteria to meet. It took me a week to complete the statement after endless tweaking.
They were kind to respond with a rejection and also provided a score; 5 of 11. Their minimum was 6.
CoolHands said:
It’s a job in a local authority haha
Yes some of their bullet point sentences went onto the next line down and had their own (incorrect) bullet. So it looked like 2 distinct items but was actually the same sentence! Etc
They specifically said (in bold) to answer all items in the same order (to make it easy fit them to tick off each one I guess) so no I couldn’t group or do anything like that.
Yes, sounds like they are going to score purely on each Person Spec point and whether you have given an example of how you meet it. There's nothing to stop you repating the same answer for points that relate to the same skills. I doubt the bored scoring assessor is going to notice. Depends how much you want it Yes some of their bullet point sentences went onto the next line down and had their own (incorrect) bullet. So it looked like 2 distinct items but was actually the same sentence! Etc
They specifically said (in bold) to answer all items in the same order (to make it easy fit them to tick off each one I guess) so no I couldn’t group or do anything like that.
Edited by CoolHands on Tuesday 26th July 08:45
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