Top 10 Tips on Writing Winning
ApplicationS
- Visit the school
Be sure to visit the school before you apply.Headteachers get many applications from many individuals. Visiting helps them to remember you. If you are unable to do so, speak to the named contact.You might not be right for the school as well as them not being right for you. Visiting gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the school, staff and pupils. Not everything can be captured in words on paper. Remember that even though you are not formally being assessed, once you make contact, the assessment has begun!
Don’t turn up in jeans knowing nothing about the school. Have a few intelligent questions to ask!
2. Get all the information
Read the job description and person specification very carefully. Research the school, check the school website, download newsletters, read their Ofsted report, RAISEonline summary etc. Ask the school if you can have access to otherinformation - e.g. the whole school development plan. Use your contacts to gather as much information as you can.
3. Follow the instructions
Follow the instructions to do with the format of the application and letter of application, for example style, font, and word limit. Don’t miss the deadline for submitting your application.
- Write an outstanding Personal statement
Your personal statement may be the difference between your application being rejected or the panel inviting you to an interview. Take time and care to ensure that it is a polished statement.
Make your application personal to the school. Paste and cut jobs are easily spotted! Your opening paragraph is critical. Be sure to establish in the first paragraph:
a)Your delight at the opportunity the school offers ( i.e. something very positive about the school so they feel good immediately e.g. an Ofsted comment, phrase from their mission statement etc)
b)Your key strengths as a senior school leader
c)Why you are a great match to what the school needs
Avoid the temptation to emphasise what you have done
in this opening paragraph. The school wants to know how you will take them forward more than what you have done.
Your supporting statement needs to read like a great narrative – a great story of who you are and what you can bring. A strong beginning, middle and end are important. Close with a statement of who you are as a person, your strength of character and a final sentence confirming why you feel you are the right person for the job.
Your achievements and passion must shine through. Write about why you love what you do, or want to do. External verification is very powerful . Quote from the Ofsted reports, exam results, LA comments, governing body comments, results from 360 degree leadership assessments etc.
Make sure you have addressed the person specification. Using theheadings they have used on the person specification will help you to focus on this. If they have not used headings, don’t just write a sentence or two against each item of the person specification. Group the items of the person spect under themes e.g. Teaching experience, leadership and management experience and achievements, curriculum innovation etc and then provide the evidence under these headings. This way you will achieve a better narrative.
Keep the statement concise, easy to read and jargon free. Avoid waffle and write no more than two sides of A4, unless you have been given other instructions.
- ADDRESS THE Person specification
Whilst the job description is certainly important, it is the evidence you provide against the person specification i.e. the required qualities, skills, knowledge and understanding, which will determine if you are shortlisted. Be sure to tick off every essential item on the person specification as covered in your statement. If the shortlisting panel is taking a very scientific scoring approach to shortlisting the applicants, by using this approach, you are making it much easier for them to check off that you are the ideal person for the job and the right person for their school.
To be shortlisted you must demonstrate that you meet the person specification requirements , and demonstrate your achievements and impact. You want the recruiter reading your application to know what you did, how you did it and what was the outcome. Choose examples which are easy to explain and demonstrate the greatest impact and or examples relevant to where the school needs to develop. Use the STAR technique to help you evidence your impact.
To repeat, make sure you address the person specification item by item; this is what is required to get shortlisted. Bald statements of what you can do are not sufficient. You must provide evidence of your various competences at doing specific things not just your experience of doing them. Quantitative data stating the impact of your work is the best way to do this e.g. before X 25% was the case , after X 55% was the case. Upward trend data is even better.
Some items of the person specification are assessed from the application, some from the interview and some from an assessment task so be sure to check which apply to what process.
Always wordprocess this part of the application.
- STATE YOUR USP
Stand out and show what is your unique selling point. Explain what you will bring that is extra to the school if you are successful – for example your skills, your background, experience. How you would add value to the school. Don’t be afraid to put forward you ethnicity or gender for example as a benefit or the strength of your moral purpose.
- Complete the Application formin full
This is the simplest part of the application process but the most important as it gives the recruiter a succinct summary of your expertise and experience. Address your application to a named person at the right school! Handwriting the application form if you have great handwriting adds a nice personal touch.
- Explain all Gaps
Make sure there are no gaps in your education or employment history.Explain any breaks from working you may have. Don’t leave them to wonder
and come to the wrong conclusions! Career breaks to raise a family or to study are not unusual. If you’ve had a long break be sure to have some ideas
about the benefits of the break to you as a person and professional so if it
comes up at interview you do not sound apologetic.
9. Fill in all parts of the application form
Don’t leave any gaps on the application form and remember to tick the correct boxes and declare any criminal convictions and cautions.
10. BE Accurate
Check your spellings, grammar, punctuation and typos (such as extra or unwanted spaces). Make sure the layout is neat and orderly. Read it out loud and see if it makes sense. Get someone else to read it.
Get some help and ask someone with high levels of English skillsto read your application form and covering letter. Get a headteacher to read your application and tell you if it hits the mark!
Baljit Birring & Ankhara Lloyd-Hunte September 2013