Staffordshire told to improve application forms to get promotion and jobs

Staffordshire’s leading authority on learning, training and jobs advice is urging local people to improve their CVs and application forms to increase their chance of gaining jobs and promotion. nextstep, which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and delivered by Connexions Staffordshire, is advising individuals that employers are increasingly concerned about poor English, ‘text speak’ and lack of information when making decisions on the people they employ. The rallying call comes on the back of recent research by the BBC and comes just a few weeks after local people

embarked on Adult Learners week, which included career shows, advice sessions, on-the-street support and taster sessions. Sue Zurawiel, Business Development Manager for Connexions Staffordshire, picked up the story: “There is no time like the present and this is a great opportunity for individuals to boost their skills and try to improve their chances of gaining jobs or that all important promotion.” She continued: “There is a lot of help and support that a nextstep adviser can provide and this will give people, who perhaps have been out of work for a long time, the chance to chat about their current circumstances and potentially research suitable courses, ranging from IT and photography to timekeeping and help with preparing a CV and job application form.

“The latter is increasingly important after a survey of recruitment agencies stated that people are often falling short because of using too much text speak, putting an apostrophe in the wrong place and even general spelling. “These are basic errors, but, with the right advice and support, things that can be easily turned around.” Other findings showed that individuals need to read the instructions extremely carefully, with many failing to spot ‘complete in capitals’ or ‘write in black ink’.
There also needs to be a major emphasis on putting plenty of relevant details into the ‘Additional Information’ section, as this is often the last but one of the most important sections. “It’s not just about saying I have good organisational skills or I like to volunteer...give examples, such as ‘I regularly managed the monthly board meetings for 10 directors’ or ‘in my spare time, I take a group of young disabled people swimming,” added Sue. “A lot of jobs now come with a personal specification, which outlines the skills and knowledge the employer is looking for. It is vital that you hit all of the requirements and to ensure this is reflected in the application.” She concluded: “Finally, completing a form online is becoming increasingly common and jobseekers must make sure they read through everything before emailing, keep a copy and then check to see if the employer has received it."