1st job app in 18 yrs

[Craphouserat]

Evening all

I've worked in Forensics - specifically DNA for 18 years now -i'm 39. For the last few years I've wanted out for a number of reasons - the main one genuinely wanting a new challenge..I know it sounds cheesy but it's 100% genuine. I also work beside my wife - not something I'd ever have thought I'd do but we've worked around it for the last 8 years. I think it would be healthier to work somewhere else.

6 years ago I applied to become a Police Dispatcher - I missed out but only because experienced people applied and got the job. The person in charge of the Police control room at that time invited me to spend some time in the dept. in order for me to check if it really was something I wanted to do. I loved it. Since then any jobs that have come up have been internal (unavailable to me even though I work in Forensics).

In order to give myself a fighting chance next time these jobs came up I volunteered with Victim Support - talking to victims of all types of crime over the phone - giving me experience of dealing with distressed/difficult individuals.

Fast forward to the present day and they are now looking for some people. If anyone could give me some help with wording some basic stuff for the application form I'd be very grateful. I know there are helpful people in the Jobs section.

Basically app form says in 100 words why do you want this job? How do i say I genuinely want a new challenge in a more front line job - a job that pushes me and challenges me on a daily basis? Something my current post hasn't done for years. The app form is split into sections called behavioral competencies.

There are 7 I have to complete - in no more than 150 words each. Things like Effective Communication,Respect for Diversity, Teamwork, Service delivery. I have stuff to put in each but how do i put things in succinctly ?

First time I've filled in a form for 18 years - they're quite different to the last time. I think my problem is I don't really know how to put things down succinctly without banging on.

Sorry for the long post - any advice appreciated.

CHR

[RealSquirrels]

make a list of the skills you need for the role (or for each competency). make a list of the evidence you have that you have those skills. put it in a logical order. write it out in nice prose. edit it down so that it's concise, consistent, and well worded.

[omegac]

Make it up, how do you think Sgt's, Insp's and Ch Insp's get to where they get to...

Are you office based or a SOCO? If the latter maybe you've been to a house and observed the wishes of a minority group, i.e. not shaken hands with a female, removed shoes or similar....Don't dig too deep, once you're in the Job and in a relevant role they may ask for more specific and in-depth examples, but I have interviewed Comms Operators and Specials and if they're not already in the Job just expected a very basis level of understanding of Diversity/Equal Ops.

[omegac]

Make it up, how do you think Sgt's, Insp's and Ch Insp's get to where they get to...

Are you office based or a SOCO? If the latter maybe you've been to a house and observed the wishes of a minority group, i.e. not shaken hands with a female, removed shoes or similar....Don't dig too deep, once you're in the Job and in a relevant role they may ask for more specific and in-depth examples, but I have interviewed Comms Operators and Specials and if they're not already in the Job just expected a very basis level of understanding of Diversity/Equal Ops.

[Craphouserat]

I'm not a SOCo - lab based, don't go to crime scenes. It is an interesting job - after 18 yrs if you've analysed one mouth swab/hair root/bone done patternities civil/criminal they're all the same.

I enjoyed helping people over the phone - I enjoyed the control room experience, I think I may want it a bit much - the word limits hopefully make this impossible to come across.

[Craphouserat]

I don't want to come across in the wrong way in the opening paragraphs but how do you politely say that your current work bores you, the work environment is poisonous (blame culture) there is no career ladder and although some of your colleagues are satisfied coming into work to sit and update their social media accounts you are not.

[omegac]

Craphouserat said:

I don't want to come across in the wrong way in the opening paragraphs but how do you politely say that your current work bores you,

I don't think anyone can criticise you for wanting a change after 18yrs, it hardly makes you "flighty"...It shows a high level of commitment, but you now want a change as you feel you have learnt all you can in your current role and are now feeling unfulfilled.

Craphouserat said:

the work environment is poisonous (blame culture)

You don't

Craphouserat said:

there is no career ladder and although some of your colleagues are satisfied coming into work to sit and update their social media accounts you are not.

Due to external influences, i.e. budget reductions you feel that you are unlikely to go any further in your current role, and you are noticing people becoming demotivated around you. That is not that type of person you are, you are motivated and hard working, and would like a new challenge but still within the service.

[Craphouserat]

omegac said:

Due to external influences, i.e. budget reductions you feel that you are unlikely to go any further in your current role, and you are noticing people becoming demotivated around you. That is not that type of person you are, you are motivated and hard working, and would like a new challenge but still within the service.

Thanks for that - that is really well put. I have a week until closing date. One of these competencies is Respect for Diversity - i'm no bigot or racist etc, live and let live, but how on earth do you evidence that you have respect for diversity?? Even if you were bigoted - anyone can say otherwise !

I'm guessing i'm just well out of practice with modern application forms !!

Thanks again for your thoughts.

[omegac]

No problem at all...Diversity and/or Equal Opportunities will feature in any public sector application and interview. Make sure you know the difference (i.e. treating everyone according to their needs as opposed to treating everyone equally).

Current interview thinking is not to ask "what would you do if" but to ask someone to evidence "when have you" i.e. tell me a time when you've had to be aware of treating someone according to their needs, or ensured someone hasn't been treated differently due to their age, sexuality etc.

It doesn't necessarily need to be work related, it may be something in your private life. Gay/Religious/Ethnic/Disabled etc friend or colleague?

Anytime you've challenged inappropriate behaviour? Sometimes you just need to think of something you've experienced, sometimes you just need to be a little creative

[hidetheelephants]

Craphouserat said:

omegac said:

Due to external influences, i.e. budget reductions you feel that you are unlikely to go any further in your current role, and you are noticing people becoming demotivated around you. That is not that type of person you are, you are motivated and hard working, and would like a new challenge but still within the service.

Thanks for that - that is really well put. I have a week until closing date. One of these competencies is Respect for Diversity - i'm no bigot or racist etc, live and let live, but how on earth do you evidence that you have respect for diversity?? Even if you were bigoted - anyone can say otherwise !

I'm guessing i'm just well out of practice with modern application forms !!

Thanks again for your thoughts.

That one's always stumped me; the few times I've encountered this particular rubbish in an application form I've fudged it by waffling about diversity, but like you say how exactly do you really convey this? It's not like you can write 'I leveraged my synergies and developed a new paradigm to prevent the recurrence of the holocaust and proactively avoided burning the black guy next door on a fiery cross; when I encountered a lynch mob chasing him down the road I intervened and through careful negotiation mediated a compromise agreement which involved them not stringing him up to the nearest lamp post. I am working with Ban Ki Moon to achieve the reunification of North and South Korea. In my spare time I have been teaching the Polish deckhand swearwords and the correct context in which they are used.'?

Or perhaps you can, it's just my irony detector won't allow me to write it.

[Pit Pony]

Craphouserat said:

I don't want to come across in the wrong way in the opening paragraphs but how do you politely say that your current work bores you, the work environment is poisonous (blame culture) there is no career ladder and although some of your colleagues are satisfied coming into work to sit and update their social media accounts you are not.

I've achieve EVERYTHING and More (List them and make them sound like the sort of bloke that they want) that I wanted to, and now looking for a new challenge.

[Craphouserat]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Lots to think about over the coming days. There have been times when I've challenged inappropriate behaviour at work....probably one of the reasons some people dislike me !

Hoo Humm life goes on !

CHeers

CHR

[conanius]

I find honesty is really important.

I think that for every job people list, if the advert is right, you'll get suitable candidates on paper.

If someone has the aptitude to do the job (either through existing knowledge or willingness to learn) then to me it all becomes about 'will this person fit into my team'.

I've seen other managers recruit 'the best candidate' because they could do XYZABC other things, but they've got such a destructive behaviour that it tears the team apart.

Give me someone willing to learn with a great personality who gets on with people every day of the week. There is no better feeling as a manager helping someone develop to their potential, and at the end of it all, realising you made the right choice recruiting them.

[Craphouserat]

conanius said:

I find honesty is really important.

I think that for every job people list, if the advert is right, you'll get suitable candidates on paper.

If someone has the aptitude to do the job (either through existing knowledge or willingness to learn) then to me it all becomes about 'will this person fit into my team'.

I've seen other managers recruit 'the best candidate' because they could do XYZABC other things, but they've got such a destructive behaviour that it tears the team apart.

Give me someone willing to learn with a great personality who gets on with people every day of the week. There is no better feeling as a manager helping someone develop to their potential, and at the end of it all, realising you made the right choice recruiting them.

That was very refreshing to read. I'm not going to drop myself in it by saying anything about my managers but that, to me, was like someone handing your wallet to you after you've dropped it. I can't remember the saying but I think it's along the lines of reaffirming that there are decent people out there.

You sound like a very good manager to work for.

Thanks for your post.

[GlenMH]

Craphouserat get yourself a copy of "What color is your parachute" - it is an American book but updated every year and it is a fantastic resource for changing jobs and careers. There are some great tips in there about how to prepare for interviews, find out what you really want to do etc etc.

If you want to have a chat as I work in the job change & careers advice sector, then please send me a PM.

Good luck!

[Craphouserat]

GlenMH said:

Craphouserat get yourself a copy of "What color is your parachute" - it is an American book but updated every year and it is a fantastic resource for changing jobs and careers. There are some great tips in there about how to prepare for interviews, find out what you really want to do etc etc.

If you want to have a chat as I work in the job change & careers advice sector, then please send me a PM.

Good luck!

Thanks a lot. I will look into that book and maybe drop you a line. I think because of my physical disability I am guaranteed an interview - so a chat with someone like you might be very handy.

Thanks again.

[Craphouserat]

I've just heard I've got an interview on Wednesday ! Chuffed...but not long to prepare for my first interview in 18 years....new suit for me at the weekend !!

Thanks for all the words of advice regarding the application form.

Cheers

CHR

[RealSquirrels]

congratualtions, and best of luck! I always find that in depth preparation is really worth it. I normally write down the job spec and prepare answers that demonstrate/explain my skills for each point on it! another good trick is to have a very good 2 minute 'my story' spiel ready to go. and definitely think of some challenging questions for the interview panel (a good one is always "what upcoming challenges do you see for [your organisation]" (especially if you can link it to recent developments in the industry... i.e. "in light of...").

[GlenMH]

RealSquirrels said:

congratualtions, and best of luck! I always find that in depth preparation is really worth it. I normally write down the job spec and prepare answers that demonstrate/explain my skills for each point on it! another good trick is to have a very good 2 minute 'my story' spiel ready to go. and definitely think of some challenging questions for the interview panel (a good one is always "what upcoming challenges do you see for [your organisation]" (especially if you can link it to recent developments in the industry... i.e. "in light of...").

Yup - this is good.

Also, if you can find out the competency matrix for that job, then go through them and write the scenarios down where you have demonstrated that compentency. Evidence, evidence and evidence is key in an interview.

[Craphouserat]

Thanks guys - both good advice there.

I will do as you said over the weekend. I'm actually looking forward to it, at the end of the day I'm in a permanent job so I don't have anything to lose. I imagine if you needed a job in the current climate just to get the bills paid it must be very nerve wracking.

Anyway - thanks again. Advice always appreciated.