Application Form Hell

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I have been staring at this application form for hours, and can’t think of a single thing to write.

It’s for a library job (which I do actually want), and is the first proper application form I’ve filled in for a long time, as I’ve been at home with the kids for seven long years. I have done all the little bits, like my name, and previous jobs, and what ethnic group I belong to, and now I’ve just got the ‘personal statement’ section left to do.

I have all the attributes they are looking for (I’ve worked in bookshops on and off ever since I left University, so I know how to alphabetize, and be nice to people who say ‘I’m looking for this book…it’s green…’). But I am really bad at making myself sound dynamic and employable, particularly since my work experience has been patchy, and looking after kids doesn’t count :rolleyes: .

Is anyone else having this problem? Got any tips? Better still, will someone write the damn thing for me? Pleeeeeeeease…

2

Here’s how I do it when the words don’t want to come. I sneak up on it. Writing an outline isn’t writing, its just outlining, so start there and sneak up on the draft.

Step 1 Make an outline:
“My essay on how I will be great at this job”

  1. I have essential library skills
  2. I have great people skills
  3. I am easy to work with
  4. I am professional

Step 2 expand outline:

  1. I have essential library skills
  • I have worked at the greater podunkia bookstore for x years
    -----managed non-fiction section
    -----extremely knowledgeable re non-fiction
    -----worked as buyer for x years
    -Worked as editor of “Sailor Moon” e-zine
  • I have tremendous knowledge of books from this as well as my own reading
  • my training at Whatsamatta U. gave me excellent working knowledge of library stuff
  1. I have great people skills
  • My volunteer work demonstrates that I am a people working person
  • My grassroots organizing to cause changes in the city infrastructure (basketbal courts for kids, changing road to one -way street) show my ability to organize and get stuff done
  1. I am easy to work with
  2. I am professional

Step 3 turn each point in detailed and expanded outline into a sentance. TAHDAH. Now you have a draft, and its all editing from here.

3

Those are all excellent points I always look at it from a marketing perspective. You – or your services, your skills, rather - are a product, and you are trying to market yourself to a particular audience, so you need to emphasize the points that makes you attractive to that audience while glossing over or leaving out entirely those parts that are not selling points. Haven’t been employed for seven years? Leave it as a need-to-know item or simply let your work experience section speak for itself. If asked, well, I’m sure anyone would understand the stay-at-home mom thing. Focus on what your product – you, your services – can do for them, how your skills meet their needs, what you can bring that would make you a more attractive package than someone else, etc.

It’s not refrigerators to Eskimos – clearly you’ve got what they want. You just need spell it out for them.